Tunisian President Kais Saied announced the presidential election date for October 6. Although he hasn’t officially declared his candidacy, Saied is widely anticipated to seek a second term.
His tenure since being elected in 2019 has been marked by significant controversy.
The opposition argues that free and fair elections are impossible under the current conditions, with several potential candidates either imprisoned or facing legal challenges.
They claim the government’s actions are intended to exclude Saied’s main competitors, including prominent figures from the Ennahda Islamist party and the Free Constitutional Party.
Among the notable candidates facing legal troubles is Abir Moussi, leader of the Free Constitutional Party, who has been in prison since last year on charges of harming public security.
Her party believes her imprisonment is a tactic to sideline a strong contender. Authorities, however, deny these allegations.
Other potential candidates, such as Safi Saeed, Lotfi Maraihi, Nizar Chaari, and Abd Ellatif Mekki, are under prosecution for various alleged crimes, including fraud and money laundering.
Mondher Znaidi, another potential candidate currently in France, is also under investigation for financial corruption.
Since seizing nearly all powers in 2021 and dissolving parliament, President Saied has faced accusations of staging a coup. He maintains that his actions were necessary to address the pervasive corruption among the political elite.
Over the past year, prominent opponents, including businessmen, media figures, and politicians, have been detained on charges of conspiring against state security.
