TUNIS: Tunisia’s electoral commission on Monday approved the candidacies of President Kais Saied, Zouhair Magzhaoui, and Ayachi Zammel for the upcoming presidential election scheduled for October 6. This decision comes amid a heated controversy over the exclusion of several prominent candidates and the recent arrest of Zammel.
The electoral commission’s decision to approve these three candidates marks a significant step as the campaign period is set to begin on September 14. However, the commission has faced criticism for rejecting a ruling by the Administrative Court to reinstate three other notable candidates: Mondher Znaidi, Abdel Latif Mekki, and Imed Daimi.
The court had previously overturned the electoral commission’s initial rejection of these candidates, arguing they should be allowed to participate in the race. The electoral commission’s refusal to comply with this ruling has sparked widespread concern among opposition groups and rights advocates, who argue that the commission’s actions undermine the credibility of the electoral process.
Meanwhile, Ayachi Zammel, one of the approved candidates, was arrested early Monday morning at his home on allegations of falsifying popular endorsements. Zammel’s campaign spokesperson, Mahdi Abdel Jawad, described the arrest as a politically motivated attempt to exclude Zammel from the election. “The matter has become absurd and aims to exclude him from the election,” Abdel Jawad said.
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Farouk Bouasker, head of the electoral commission, stated that the commission would review the Administrative Court’s decision and other judicial orders before finalizing the list of candidates. This stance has fueled accusations from rights groups and politicians who claim the commission’s independence is compromised and that its actions are designed to secure an easy victory for incumbent President Saied.
Political parties and human rights organizations have urged a demonstration near the electoral commission’s headquarters to demand that the court’s decision be implemented and to protest against perceived arbitrary restrictions and intimidation tactics.
Tunisian constitutional law experts have emphasized that the electoral commission must adhere to the Administrative Court’s ruling to preserve the legitimacy of the elections. Failure to do so, they warn, could severely damage the credibility of the electoral process.
President Kais Saied, who assumed control of all executive powers and dissolved the parliament in 2021, described his actions as necessary to protect the country from “non-patriots.”
