Tunisian Election: Only Three Candidates including Incumbent President Saied in Fray

(3 Minutes Read)

Originally, 17 individuals had aimed to enter the race for the presidency. There is growing concern among observers about the signs of democratic erosion in Tunisia as the campaign season approaches on September 14

Tunisia’s electoral authority confirmed that only two candidates will compete against President Kais Saied in next month’s elections.   Tunisia’s electoral authority confirmed that the only candidates eligible to run for the office of the president in the October 6 election are incumbent Saied, Ayachi Zammel, who leads a small pro-business party, and Zouhair Maghzaoui, a former left-wing pan-Arabist parliament member.

Ayachi Zammel, was arrested shortly after the announcement and is being investigated for allegedly falsifying signatures of registered voters, and the treasurer of Zammel’s former political party was arrested by authorities last month on similar allegations.

Originally, 17 individuals had aimed to enter the race for the presidency. There is growing concern among observers about the signs of democratic erosion in Tunisia as the campaign season approaches on September 14.

President Saied has taken drastic measures, including the imprisonment of political adversaries, the suspension of parliament, and the rewriting of the constitution, which has solidified his power in a country that was once a beacon of democratic change during the Arab Spring a decade ago.

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The electoral authority’s recent ruling stands in stark contrast to a decision made last week by Tunisia’s highest administrative court, which had ruled in favour of allowing three candidates, initially disqualified by the electoral commission, to run. The electoral commission has turned down their reinstatement, arguing on Monday that it did not receive the administrative court’s ruling within the legal timeframe.

Still, a considerable number of Tunisians remain in his corner, attracted to his populist rhetoric against corrupt elites and foreign influence in domestic affairs. Analysts say the election of Saied is a foregone conclusion.