Tunisian Presidential Hopeful Detained Amidst Election Controversy
In a dramatic turn of events, Tunisian police have arrested a prominent opposition politician, Ayachi Zammel, just as he was confirmed as one of the two challengers to President Kais Saied in the upcoming presidential elections. The arrest comes amidst growing accusations that President Saied is systematically blocking political rivals ahead of the October 6 vote.
Zammel was detained early on Monday, shortly before the country's electoral commission announced that he had secured a spot on the final list of candidates, alongside the incumbent and one other challenger. The arrest has sparked outrage, with rights groups accusing Saied of attempting to purge political competition.
Zammel's campaign manager, Mahdi Abdeljaouad, expressed dismay at the arrest, stating, "The matter has become absurd and aims to exclude him from the election." Zammel was taken to a police station outside the capital Tunis on suspicion of falsifying endorsements supporting his bid to take part in the election.
Human Rights Watch (HRW) has also voiced concerns, accusing the Tunisian government of blocking rivals of President Kais Saied from challenging him in the upcoming election. Saied, who is seeking a second term, won power in a 2019 election but later orchestrated a sweeping power grab in 2021, shutting down Parliament and ruling by decree. Opposition figures were also jailed during this period.
The treasurer of Zammel’s Azimoun party was also arrested last month on similar charges and will stand trial on September 13. The other candidate confirmed by the electoral commission is Zouhair Maghzaoui of the left-wing nationalist People’s Movement.
To appear on the ballot, candidates are required to present a list of signatures either from 10,000 registered voters, 10 parliamentarians, or 40 local officials. Several would-be candidates have been accused by the government of forging signatures.
The announcement by the electoral commission reinstates an earlier decision disqualifying several other candidates, including Imed Daimi, an adviser to former president Moncef Marzouki. Last week, Tunisia’s highest judicial body had ruled that Daimi, as well as two other prominent candidates – Mondher Znaidi and Abdellatif Mekki – should be allowed to run.
HRW has reported that at least eight prospective candidates have been "prosecuted, convicted, or imprisoned." Political parties and human rights groups have called for a protest on Monday near the election headquarters to demand the implementation of the court’s decision to reinstate the candidates and stop "arbitrary restrictions" and intimidation.
The arrest of Zammel and the ongoing controversies surrounding the election have cast a shadow over Tunisia's democratic process, raising concerns about the fairness and transparency of the upcoming vote. As the election date approaches, the political landscape in Tunisia remains fraught with tension and uncertainty.