Tunisia parliament limits court power over presidential election authority

On a recent Friday, Tunisia's parliament passed a controversial law that limits the power of the administrative court over election-related disputes, just days before the presidential election scheduled for October 6. This legislative change, which received 116 votes in favor, was criticized by opposition groups and civil society as an anti-democratic maneuver aimed at consolidating power for President Kais Saied. The law was introduced following a ruling by the administrative court that overturned decisions barring three presidential candidates from the ballot, a ruling that the electoral board ignored. The Independent High Authority for Elections (ISIE) faced scrutiny for dismissing the court's ruling and leaving off candidates Monther Zenaidi, Abdellatif Mekki, and Imed Daimi from the ballot, citing incomplete campaign filings. This decision, along with the recent law, has raised concerns about the fairness of the electoral process, especially as Saied, who has been accused of orchestrating a power grab since his election in 2019, seeks re-election against limited competition. Protests erupted outside the parliament as demonstrators condemned the law, viewing it as a last-minute alteration of electoral rules that undermines democracy. Critics argue that the changes favor Saied, who is already facing two lesser-known candidates, while many prominent opposition figures remain imprisoned. The political climate in Tunisia has become increasingly tense, with accusations of non-neutrality against the courts and claims that the electoral authority is acting in concert with Saied to suppress dissent and ensure his victory in the upcoming election.