Arrest and Rejected Candidates Spark Crisis ;Tunisian Presidential Race in Turmoil
In a dramatic turn of events, Tunisia’s electoral commission on Monday rejected a court ruling that had reinstated three presidential candidates, sparking outrage among opposition figures and raising questions about the integrity of the upcoming election.
Police also arrested one of the remaining candidates, in what critics are calling a blatant move to stifle competition and ensure President Kais Saied’s dominance in the race.
The commission, led by Farouk Bouasker, approved only three candidates for the October 6 presidential election: President Saied, Zouhair Magzhaoui, and Ayachi Zammel. Zammel, however, was arrested earlier in the day, a move his campaign team claims is an attempt to derail his candidacy.
These actions have only deepened Tunisia’s ongoing political crisis, which began in 2021 when Saied seized emergency powers and began ruling by decree, a move many opposition figures describe as a coup. The commission’s defiance of the Administrative Court, Tunisia’s highest judicial authority on electoral matters, has sparked protests and accusations of a complete breakdown of democratic norms.
Hichem Ajbouni, one of the protestors, condemned the commission’s actions, calling it “a complete coup against the will of the voters.” He and other activists are demanding the commission’s resignation, arguing that it has become an instrument of Saied’s authoritarian rule.
Opposition parties and human rights organizations have voiced concerns that the electoral process is being manipulated to guarantee Saied’s re-election, with claims of “arbitrary restrictions” and intimidation tactics aimed at eliminating any credible challengers. Despite these allegations, the commission maintains that it is neutral and committed to overseeing a fair election.
As Tunisia’s political landscape becomes increasingly polarized, the credibility of the upcoming election is now in question, casting a shadow over the country’s democratic future.
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Arrest and Rejected Candidates Spark Crisis ;Tunisian Presidential Race in Turmoil
