A petition signed by prominent Tunisians and civil society groups, including Legal Agenda, Lawyers Without Borders, and the Tunisian Human Rights League, was published on Saturday urging the inclusion of rejected candidates in the upcoming presidential election on October 6th. The petition welcomes a recent administrative court decision to reinstate three candidates who had been disqualified by the Tunisian election authority, ISIE. The reinstated candidates are Imed Daimi, a former advisor to ex-president Moncef Marzouki; Mondher Zenaidi, a former minister; and Abdellatif Mekki, an opposition party leader.
These three individuals were among 14 candidates barred from participating in the election by the ISIE. Their reinstatement would add to the growing list of challengers to incumbent President Kais Saied, who faces criticism for his authoritarian tendencies. Saied, democratically elected in 2019, implemented a power grab in 2021, silencing political opponents and critics through imprisonment or prosecution.
The petition, signed by over 180 civil society figures, including Wahid Ferchichi, dean of the public law faculty at Carthage University, calls the administrative court “the only competent authority to adjudicate disputes related to presidential election candidacies.” It highlights statements made by ISIE head Farouk Bouasker, who indicated on Thursday that the authority would soon meet to finalize the candidate list, taking judicial rulings into account. Some interpret this as suggesting the ISIE might reject new candidacies if they are subject to legal proceedings or have convictions.
The petition emphasizes the enforceability of the administrative court’s rulings, stating they “are enforceable and cannot be contested by any means whatsoever.” It calls on the electoral authority to “respect the law and avoid any practice that could undermine the transparency and integrity of the electoral process.”
This petition comes amidst growing concerns about the erosion of democratic principles in Tunisia. Last week, Human Rights Watch reported that Tunisian authorities “have prosecuted, convicted or imprisoned at least eight prospective candidates” for the October election. HRW highlights the concerning trend of “increased repression of dissent and free speech” and the lack of “crucial checks and balances on President Saied’s power.” The petition’s call for inclusion and respect for legal processes underscores the importance of ensuring a fair and democratic election in Tunisia.
