Tunisian opposition parties complain about electoral restrictions.

President Saied announced on July 19th that he would run for another five-year term. Elected in 2019, Saied dissolved parliament in 2021 and began governing the country by decree, a move criticized by the opposition. He declared he would not grant power to those he called “unpatriotic.”

Protesters supporting Tunisian President Kais Saied in Tunis, Tunisia, on May 19, 2024. Photo: Reuters

As the August 6th deadline for presidential candidate registration approached, 11 opposition figures issued a statement criticizing the government for restrictions aimed at eliminating rivals.

No opposition candidate has yet received a certificate of no criminal record – a newly introduced requirement. A spokesperson for the Election Commission said the Interior Ministry would provide the certificate but did not say when.

Candidate Nizar Chaari said his campaign manager and a volunteer were arrested, and police confiscated signatures of support. The Prosecutor's Office said they were arrested for forging signatures.

Earlier this month, opposition leader Lotfi Mraihi was sentenced to eight months in prison and banned from running for life for vote buying. A judge also banned candidate Abd Ellatif Mekki from appearing in the media or traveling within the country.

The head of the Liberals Committee in Parliament, Hela Ben Jaballah, called for the lifting of restrictions on candidates and for the Electoral Commission to perform its role in a neutral manner.

Hong Hanh (according to Reuters)

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/cac-dang-doi-lap-tunisia-phan-nan-ve-nhung-han-che-trong-bau-cu-post306076.html