Tunisia’s administrative court ordered the electoral commission on Saturday, September 14, to reinstate two candidates for the October 6 presidential election, so as not to compromise the legitimacy of the election. Mondher Zenaïdi and Abdellatif Mekki had been sidelined earlier this month.
Tunisia’s administrative court on Saturday ordered the electoral commission to reinstate Mondher Zenaidi and Abdellatif Mekki, two candidates it had eliminated from the race in October’s presidential election, so as not to compromise the legitimacy of the election. The move comes amid growing political tensions in Tunisia, with opposition and public fears that the vote could be rigged in favor of incumbent President Kais Saied.
“Out with the dictator”
Thousands of Tunisians also took to the streets on Friday to protest against restrictions on freedoms and the deleterious electoral climate, chanting “Out with the dictator Said” , in the largest march organized in the country for two years, reports the Reuters agency.
Tensions have mounted after the electoral commission earlier this month rejected a court decision to reinstate Mondher Zenaidi, Abdellatif Mekki, and Imed Daïmi for the October 6 election, citing alleged irregularities in their candidacy files. Mondher Zenaidi and Abdellatif Mekki had filed an appeal against the decision and the administrative court. Imed Daïmi has not yet applied to be reinstated as a candidate.
An independent commission?
The administrative court added that the commission was required to implement its decision and, if necessary, review the electoral calendar. According to opposition members, the electoral commission is no longer independent and its only objective is to guarantee an easy victory for Kais Saied, accusations that the body denies, ensuring that it is neutral.
Kais Saied, democratically elected in 2019, dissolved parliament two years later, dismissed the government, and has since ruled the country by decree. He said last year that he would not hand the country over to “non-patriots” and presents his measures as essential to the fight against corruption. Since the Arab Spring toppled dictator Ben Ali in 2011, political life in Tunisia has been marked by great instability.
