TUNIS: A coalition of prominent Tunisian civil society organizations and individuals has launched a petition demanding the inclusion of previously rejected candidates in the upcoming presidential election scheduled for October 6. The petition, published on Saturday, reflects growing concerns over the electoral process and calls for adherence to legal rulings regarding candidacy eligibility.
The petition is supported by 26 notable groups, including Legal Agenda, Lawyers Without Borders, and the Tunisian Human Rights League. It hails a recent administrative court decision to reinstate three disqualified candidates: Imed Daimi, a former adviser to ex-President Moncef Marzouki; Mondher Zenaidi, a former minister; and Abdellatif Mekki, the leader of an opposition party.
These three were among 14 candidates barred from participating in the election by the Tunisian Independent Higher Authority for Elections (ISIE).
The reinstated candidates, if allowed to run, will join former parliamentarian Zouhair Maghzaoui and businessman Ayachi Zammel in challenging incumbent President Kais Saied. Saied, who was democratically elected in 2019, has faced criticism for his actions in 2021, when he enacted a sweeping power grab that many view as undermining Tunisia’s democratic institutions.
Currently, several of Saied’s political opponents and critics are either imprisoned or facing legal charges.
The petition, which also has the support of over 180 civil society figures including Wahid Ferchichi, dean of the public law faculty at Carthage University, emphasizes that the administrative court is the sole authority with the jurisdiction to resolve disputes related to presidential election candidacies.
It highlights concerns over the transparency of the electoral process, especially in light of recent statements by ISIE head Farouk Bouasker. Bouasker suggested that the electoral authority might finalize the candidate list soon, possibly excluding those facing legal issues or past convictions.
The petition asserts that the administrative court’s rulings on appeals are final and cannot be contested. It urges the ISIE to respect legal judgments and maintain the integrity and transparency of the electoral process, warning against any actions that could compromise the fairness of the election.
Human Rights Watch reported last week that Tunisian authorities have prosecuted, convicted, or imprisoned at least eight prospective candidates for the upcoming election. HRW criticized the government for increasing repression of dissent and free speech while diminishing essential checks and balances on President Saied’s power.
