Crowds of Tunisians took to the streets once again to voice their discontent with President Kais Saied, as the country’s October 6 presidential election draws closer. They accuse Saied of limiting the number of opponents who can run against him.
One protester, Mustapha Ben Ali, said, “we came to protest to say that the president of the republic, who won five years of governance, does not want these elections to be fair now that his term has ended.”
Among the crowd were many young people, some of whom are refusing to vote on Sunday. “No, absolutely no, I won’t vote. Because first of all, there is no one in the candidates that I can vote for, but also what happened in the electoral process, it doesn’t have any guarantees for a transparent and free election,” said Siwar Gmati, aged 27.
Tunisia's electoral commission, appointed by Saied, has only approved two other candidates to run against him. In August, Human Rights Watch said authorities had ruled out several other potential candidates from running in the election through prosecution and imprisonment.
Analyst ponders if Tunisia's president can secure second term in Sunday's election
Copyright © africanewsAnis Mili/Copyright 2024 The AP. All rights reserved
One protester, Mustapha Ben Ali, said, “we came to protest to say that the president of the republic, who won five years of governance, does not want these elections to be fair now that his term has ended.”
Among the crowd were many young people, some of whom are refusing to vote on Sunday. “No, absolutely no, I won’t vote. Because first of all, there is no one in the candidates that I can vote for, but also what happened in the electoral process, it doesn’t have any guarantees for a transparent and free election,” said Siwar Gmati, aged 27.
Tunisia's electoral commission, appointed by Saied, has only approved two other candidates to run against him. In August, Human Rights Watch said authorities had ruled out several other potential candidates from running in the election through prosecution and imprisonment.
Analyst ponders if Tunisia's president can secure second term in Sunday's election
Copyright © africanewsAnis Mili/Copyright 2024 The AP. All rights reserved
By Rédaction Africanews
Tunisia
With his major opponents imprisoned or left off the ballot, Tunisian President Kais Saied faces few obstacles to winning re-election on Sunday, five years after riding anti-establishment backlash to a first term.
The North African country's Oct. 6 presidential election is its third since protests led to the 2011 ouster of President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali — the first autocrat toppled in the Arab Spring uprisings that also overthrew leaders in Egypt, Libya and Yemen.
International observers praised the previous two contests as meeting democratic norms. However, a raft of arrests and actions taken by a Saied-appointed election authority have raised doubts about whether this year's race is free and fair. And opposition parties have called for a boycott.
Michael Ayari, Senior Analyst for Algeria & Tunisia at the International Crisis Group, told the Associated Press on Friday that questions loom over Tunisia's future trajectory.
“Will Saied’s rule last forever? That is the question. Is it possible to change the political system in a peaceful way? Or are Tunisians condemned to have a president who will stay in power for 30 years? Who will stay for 20 or 30 years and will put in place his program and the country will become more and more authoritarian?”
But, he added, President Saied does have ardent supporters, who see this election as a “key moment”, an opportunity for Saied to reinforce his “power to carry out his program to liberate the country from a kind of Western domination.”
Tunisia has maintained ties with its traditional Western allies but also forged new partnerships under Saied.
Tunisia and Iran lifted visa requirements and in May announced plans to boost trade ties. It has also accepted millions in loans as part of China’s Belt and Road Initiative to build hospitals, stadiums and ports.
Additional sources • AP
Since he came to power in 2019, Saied has suspended parliament, and pushed through a new constitution to reinforce his own power.
His administration has clamped down on perceived opponents, arresting lawyers, journalists and activists.
Tunisia gears up for October 6th Presidential election
Last updated: 19 hours ago
Tunisia
As Tunisia is drawing ever closer to its Presidential election on October 6th, there are mixed feelings among the country's youth towards politics and the vote itself.
Citing a lack of opportunity, some aspire to move abroad. Seddik Malki, a fruit vendor, says, “I want to tell the youth: leave through the sea; there is nothing that keeps us here in Tunisia... I have no future here.”
Meanwhile, others are hopeful that the election will bring about change. "I hope that whoever wins the presidential elections will fix the country and pay attention to the youth, especially the high cost of living,'' Lotfi Hamdi, a 32-year-old street vendor, says.
Current president Kais Saied is seeking another term in the upcoming election. With his major opponents in prison or barred from running, Saied has been accused of stamping out his political competition and accumulating power in his own hands.
Only two candidates have been given the green light to run against Saied, who has suspended parliement since he came to power in 2019.
Tunisia
As Tunisia is drawing ever closer to its Presidential election on October 6th, there are mixed feelings among the country's youth towards politics and the vote itself.
Citing a lack of opportunity, some aspire to move abroad. Seddik Malki, a fruit vendor, says, “I want to tell the youth: leave through the sea; there is nothing that keeps us here in Tunisia... I have no future here.”
Meanwhile, others are hopeful that the election will bring about change. "I hope that whoever wins the presidential elections will fix the country and pay attention to the youth, especially the high cost of living,'' Lotfi Hamdi, a 32-year-old street vendor, says.
Current president Kais Saied is seeking another term in the upcoming election. With his major opponents in prison or barred from running, Saied has been accused of stamping out his political competition and accumulating power in his own hands.
Only two candidates have been given the green light to run against Saied, who has suspended parliement since he came to power in 2019.
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