Protests Erupt in Tunisia Amid Controversial Electoral Law Amendments
Tunis, Tunisia – As the country approaches presidential elections scheduled for October 6, 2023, the political landscape in Tunisia is heating up. On Friday, the Tunisian parliament convened an extraordinary session to discuss a controversial amendment to the electoral law, which has sparked widespread protests among citizens and opposition groups. The session was marked by significant demonstrations organized by activists who gathered near the parliament to voice their dissent against the proposed changes.
The amendment, which aims to transfer the responsibility of monitoring the electoral process from the Administrative Court to the Court of Appeal, has been met with fierce opposition from the National Salvation Front, the largest opposition coalition in Tunisia. The front argues that this move serves to undermine the integrity of the electoral process and could lead to the manipulation of the popular will. Protesters raised slogans such as “No fear, no terror… the street belongs to the people,” reflecting a growing discontent with the current political climate.
The extraordinary session was opened by Ibrahim Bouderbala, Speaker of the House of People's Representatives, who is pushing for the vote to either approve or reject the amendments. The proposed changes come on the heels of a decision by the Independent High Authority for Elections to reject the reinstatement of three candidates for the presidential race, despite a ruling from the Administrative Court that favored their candidacy.
The electoral commission has since confirmed a final list of candidates, which currently includes only three individuals: incumbent President Kais Saied, Ayachi Zemal of the Azmoun Movement, and Zuhair Al-Maghzawi from the People’s Movement. The exclusion of the three opposition candidates, who were deemed eligible to run, has further fueled allegations of electoral malpractice and has led to calls for transparency and fairness in the upcoming elections.
As Tunisia grapples with significant political polarization since President Saied assumed power in July 2021, the opposition continues to challenge the legitimacy of the electoral process. The National Salvation Front has stated that it will not participate in the elections, citing the lack of fair competition conditions. Meanwhile, the government maintains that the elections will be conducted with integrity and transparency, despite the growing unrest among the populace.
