The Independent High Authority for Elections in Tunisia has announced the initial acceptance of three candidates for the upcoming presidential elections. Among the accepted candidates is the current President, Kais Saied, who is vying for a second term. The announcement was made by Farouk Bouaskar, head of the authority, during a press conference where he emphasized that the candidates were selected after a thorough review of their applications. Out of 17 candidates, only Saied, Zuhair Al-Maghzaoui, Secretary-General of the People’s Movement Party, and political activist Ayachi Zammal were approved.
Bouaskar clarified that the rejection of the other candidates stemmed from issues such as insufficient recommendation signatures or failure to meet distribution requirements set by the electoral law. No applications were denied based on criminal records, which has been a point of contention, especially as candidates have struggled to obtain the necessary criminal record card from the Ministry of Interior. This card, known locally as 'card number 3,' is essential for candidacy.
The electoral landscape is fraught with challenges, particularly for potential rivals to Saied, who has been in power since 2019. The nomination process is stringent, requiring recommendations from either 10 parliamentarians, 40 elected local officials, or 10,000 voters, with at least 500 recommendations needed from each electoral district. This has raised concerns about the accessibility of the electoral process for new candidates.
Recent legal issues surrounding candidates have also surfaced, with four women from rapper Karim al-Gharbi's campaign sentenced to prison for allegedly obtaining recommendations in exchange for money. This situation adds to the political tension in Tunisia, where opposition forces have been boycotting Saied's governance since he implemented exceptional measures that critics view as a coup against the democratic framework established in 2014. Supporters of Saied, however, argue that these measures are necessary to correct the course of the revolution that began in 2011.
- The political climate in Tunisia remains polarized, with significant divisions between supporters and opponents of President Saied. The opposition has consistently criticized Saied's actions since July 25, 2021, when he took measures that dissolved the Judicial and House of Representatives and allowed him to issue legislation by presidential decree. This has led to accusations of authoritarianism and a departure from the democratic principles established after the 2011 revolution that ousted former president Zine El Abidine Ben Ali.
- As Tunisia approaches the presidential elections, the scrutiny of the electoral process and the legitimacy of candidates will be crucial. The ability of candidates to navigate the stringent requirements and the political landscape will determine the viability of a competitive election. The upcoming months will be critical as candidates may appeal rejections and as public sentiment continues to evolve in response to Saied's governance.
