HomeInternational NewsAuthoritarian Development in Tunisia Ahead of Presidential Election: Limited Opposition and Repression

Authoritarian Development in Tunisia Ahead of Presidential Election: Limited Opposition and Repression

Although it is still August, the Tunisian electorate is already aware of the challenges posed by the upcoming presidential election in October. Recently, the country’s electoral commission announced that out of 17 registered candidates, only three have been approved, including the incumbent president Kais Saied. His two rivals are Zouhair Magzhaoui, who previously supported the president, and the lesser-known Ayachi Zammel, leader of the Azimoun Party. Expectations for both challengers are limited.

However, for critics and human rights organizations, the impending election appears to signal a further decline into authoritarianism in Tunisia, as numerous potential presidential candidates have faced arrests, prosecutions, and restrictions from running. Earlier this week, a Tunisian court sentenced four potential candidates, including politician Abdel Latif Mekki and media figure Nizar Chaari, to prison terms for bribery related to the electoral process. A month prior, opposition candidate Lotfi Mraihi from the Republican Union Party was also jailed for money laundering, adding him to a growing list of activists and party leaders currently imprisoned – from Abir Moussi, a staunch supporter of former leader Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, to Rached Ghannouchi of the Ennahdha party.

Amnesty International has previously criticized Tunisian authorities for their disregard for human rights and their repressive handling of dissenters. “From arbitrary detentions of critical journalists, lawyers, and politicians to a systematic undermining of judicial independence, authorities must change this oppressive course and prioritize human rights,” the organization stated in July.

Since Kais Saied assumed the presidency, his time in office has been marked by dramatic events. He has leveraged widespread dissatisfaction with the previous government to impose a new constitution that has granted him additional powers while systematically suppressing his opponents. Furthermore, he has conducted a racially charged campaign against thousands of Black refugees and migrants in Tunisia.

Tunisian essayist Hatem Nafti observes that while the president may not be particularly concerned about losing the election, his allies in government are struggling under public scrutiny, resulting in state structures that depend on the president’s continued authority.

According to analysis from the Washington-based NGO Freedom House, political freedom in Tunisia has dramatically declined under Saied’s rule. “Since President Saied’s power grab in July 2021, Tunisia’s score in ‘Freedom in the World’ has fallen by 20 points, moving the country from the ‘Free’ category to ‘Partly Free’ in our global assessment,” stated Cathryn Grothe, research analyst for the Middle East and North Africa at Freedom House.

The negative trend in Tunisia is particularly evident in civil rights, including the introduction of Decree 54, which criminalizes the spreading of alleged misinformation. This decree has already been used against Abir Moussi and attorney Sonia Dahmani, both of whom have criticized the country’s electoral authorities.

Tunisian journalists and online critics have been especially vulnerable to this legislative pressure. According to the National Union of Tunisian Journalists (Syndicat National des Journalistes Tunisiens), more than 39 cases have been brought against journalists, critics, and social media users since May 2023.

Political accountability to the government is nearly non-existent, and what little remains is under threat. “Regardless of the circumstances, Nawaat will not change its editorial line and will never cease to play its role as a driving force for independent alternative media,” stated editor Aymen Rezgui. Despite the oppressive atmosphere, there is no intent among Nawaat’s staff to shift their approach. “The most important thing is to continue fulfilling our journalistic duty, for the Tunisian people need it,” Rezgui concluded.

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