Tunisia’s electoral commission on Monday dismissed an Administrative Court ruling that had reinstated three presidential candidates: Mondher Znaidi, AbdelLarif Mekki, and Imed Daimi. The commission instead approved incumbent President Kais Saied and two others, Zouhair Magzhaoui and Ayachi Zammel, as the official candidates for the upcoming October 6 elections. The decision has sparked significant controversy and raised questions about the integrity of the electoral process.
The commission’s defiance of the nation’s highest judiciary body has been met with criticism from various quarters, as it undermines the court’s authority and the legal framework governing the election. The electoral campaigns are scheduled to commence on September 14, but the legitimacy of the process is now under intense scrutiny.
Adding to the controversy, one of the approved candidates, Ayachi Zammel, found himself at the center of a political storm. Mahdi Abdel Jawad, a member of Zammel’s campaign, revealed that the opposition leader was arrested at his home around 3:00 a.m. on suspicion of falsifying popular endorsements. This arrest, just days after his candidacy was confirmed, has fueled allegations of political manipulation.
“The matter has become absurd and aims to exclude him from the election,” Jawad stated, reflecting the growing frustration among Zammel’s supporters and other opposition groups.
The arrest has led to accusations that the electoral commission and government authorities are working together to eliminate political rivals, casting a shadow over the upcoming election.
As Tunisia prepares for the start of the election campaign, the fallout from the electoral commission’s decision continues to unfold.
With the legitimacy of the process in question and key candidates sidelined, the country’s democratic future appears uncertain. The international community and local observers will be closely watching how the situation develops in the coming weeks.
