Tunisian President Kais Saied has announced his intention to seek a second term in the upcoming October election. However, critics and opposition leaders claim that fair and credible elections cannot be held unless imprisoned politicians are released and the media is allowed to operate without government pressure. Several potential challengers to Saied, including Lotfi Mraihi and Abir Moussi, are either in prison or facing prosecution on various charges. Human rights organizations, including Amnesty International, have condemned the crackdown on the political opposition in Tunisia. Saied, who has ruled by decree since July 2021, called on those sponsoring candidates to avoid corruption in the upcoming election. Saied’s critics, including Rached Ghannouchi and Issam Chebbi, have also faced imprisonment and legal challenges. The opposition parties claim that the charges against them are politically motivated to eliminate them from the presidential race. Saied’s candidacy for a second term comes amidst a climate of political repression and authoritarian tactics in Tunisia. As the election approaches, the international community will be closely monitoring the situation to ensure that the democratic process in Tunisia is upheld.
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President Saied of Tunisia announces plans to run for re-election in October | Latest updates on Elections
