Tunisian opposition parties, presidential candidates, and human rights groups have alleged that the authorities are employing “arbitrary restrictions” and intimidation tactics to secure the re-election of President Kais Saied in the next poll scheduled for October 6.
Saied declared on July 19 his intention to pursue a second five-year term. In 2019, Saied was elected and subsequently dissolved parliament in 2021. He then assumed power through the use of decrees, a move that the opposition labelled as a coup. He has explicitly stated that he would not relinquish control to individuals whom he refers to as “non-patriots”.
With the approaching deadline of August 6th for presidential candidate registration, 11 opposition personalities aiming to compete against Saied have released a collective statement this week, expressing their criticism towards the authorities.
“The violations have affected most of the serious candidates to the point that they appear to indicate a desire to exclude them (from the election) and restrict them to make way for a specific candidate,” they said in the joint statement.
As of now, none of the 11 opposition candidates have acquired a document verifying their lack of criminal background, which is a newly imposed requirement for their registration.
The Election Commission spokeswoman stated that the Interior Ministry will contact the candidates to furnish them with the required documentation.
However, no specific timeline was provided for when this communication will take place. The Commission refuted the allegations of prejudice.
