Many Candidates Disqualified Before Tunisia's Election

Tunisia's electoral commission has approved only three candidates, including President Kais Saied, out of 17 who submitted their names for the upcoming presidential election. Critics and human rights organizations argue that this election is emblematic of Tunisia's accelerating authoritarianism, as numerous potential contenders have faced arrests and legal challenges. Notably, opposition candidate Lotfi Mraihi was jailed for money laundering, joining a growing list of political figures, including Abir Moussi and Rached Ghannouchi, who have been imprisoned in recent months. Analysts suggest that President Saied's reliance on repression is intensifying as the election approaches. Hatem Nafti, a Tunisian essayist, noted that Saied's actions are not driven by fear of losing popularity but rather by a desire to avoid public challenges. Since Saied's consolidation of power in July 2021, Tunisia's political freedoms have significantly declined, with Freedom House reporting a 20-point drop in the country's global ranking, moving from "Free" to "Partly Free." The media landscape in Tunisia has also suffered, with journalists and online critics increasingly targeted under repressive laws. Human Rights Watch highlighted the transformation of political discourse into entertainment, diminishing accountability for the government. Aymen Rezgui, Editor-in-Chief of the independent media outlet Nawaat, expressed concerns over ongoing cyber attacks and defamation campaigns against their platform, yet emphasized the staff's commitment to maintaining their editorial stance despite the oppressive environment.