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2024 Tunisia Elections: Ayachi Zammel And Maghzaoui To Contest Saied

The 2024 Tunisia Elections Is Set To Take Place On 6th October 2024 With Three Candidates Confirmed For The Ballot. Alongside Incumbent Saied, Ayachi And Maghzaoui Will Also Be On The Ballot Paper.

On Monday, reports from the Tunisia’s electoral authority confirmed that only two candidates will be contesting against incumbent Kais Saied at the October polls. The 2024 Tunisia elections will be an interesting one to keep an eye on.

Among the two candidates which were confirmed by the electoral authority are; businessman Ayachi Zammel. Shortly after the electoral authority announced his validity to contest for the presidency, he was arrested and currently being investigated for allegedly falsifying the signatures of some registered voters.

Additionally, the Ayachi Zammel’s treasurer was also arrested by local authorities last month for the same allegations placed against Zammel. On Monday, September 2nd, Ayachi Zammel’s confirmation to run for presidency was confirmed and announced by Tunisia’s electoral authority.

Initially, the electoral authority received 17 applications for the presidency slot, but only two were approved, except President Saied. September 14th is set to be the campaign season as some observers and netizens have shown their concern regarding the arrest of Ayachi Zammel. They deem the incident as an act of ‘democratic erosion’.

Incumbent Saied over the past years have done everything in his power to solidify his power in Tunisia. He has imprisoned some political adversaries, suspended parliament, and also amended the constitution. Per observers, the beacon of democratic hope can no longer be a friend of Tunisia due to the actions of the sitting President.

Tunisia’s electoral authority confirmed and released the candidates for the presidential slot in contrast to the ruling from the highest administrative court. The court ruled in favour of candidates to run for the presidency who were disqualified by the commission.

The electoral authority on Monday asserted that they did not receive the court’s ruling within the legal time frame. According to the President of the commission, Farouk Bouaskar, some oof the applicants did not meet the necessary financial deposit of 10,000 dinars, which is around 3,000 euros. In regard to this, critics have responded and accused them of making harsh decisions which they deem as ‘politically charged’.

The spokesperson for the administrative court, Faycel Bouguerra, disclosed on Diwan FM, a local radio, that the electoral authority’s decision not to implement their ruling is unprecedented and unacceptable. With the exclusion of three candidates from the presidential race, protesters gathered outside the commission’s office to voice their disagreement over the unfair decision.

Among the three candidates that were excluded by the electoral commission, President Saied’s top opponent, Abir Moussi was among. President Saied over the past months have changed the slope of Tunisia’s political stand.