Tunisia’s Independent High Authority for Elections (ISIE) rejected on Monday a decision of the country’s Administrative Court reinstating three candidates for its presidential election on October 6.
In a press conference midday yesterday, the ISIE announced its approval of incumbent President Kais Saied, Zouhair Magzhaoui and Ayachi Zammel as the final list of candidates for the election. The commission’s move defied rulings of the Administrative Court last week, which reinstated three disqualified candidates including Abdellatif Mekki and Mondher Znaidi to the presidential race.
The Administrative Court released a statement yesterday confirming that copies of the annulment judgements reinstating candidates were delivered to ISIE. Prior to the ISIE’s confirmation of presidential candidates on Monday, Ayachi Zammel was arrested by police for allegedly falsifying endorsements for his campaign.
Deputy Middle East and North Africa director at Human Rights Watch Bassam Khawaja has expressed concern over the suppression of prospective presidential candidates by Tunisian authorities:
After jailing dozens of prominent opponents and activists, Tunisian authorities have removed almost all serious contenders from the presidential race, reducing this vote to a mere formality … By blocking prospective challengers, President Saied is burying what remains of Tunisia’s democracy with this election.
The upcoming 2024 Tunisian presidential elections are scheduled to be held on October 6. These elections will mark the first presidential vote since President Kais Saied’s self-coup in 2021. Saied dissolved the parliament, suspended the activities of the Assembly and granted himself the right to rule by decree. Amid growing economic hardships, including high unemployment and inflation, the credibility and legitimacy of the electoral process are being closely scrutinized.
Decisions of the Administrative Court are final and cannot be appealed, making the ISIE’s refusal to include the three candidates a significant departure from constitutional practice. Campaigning for the presidential race is scheduled to begin on September 14.
