Politics Possible candidates for election in Tunisia sentenced to prison

Two months before the presidential election in Tunisia, six potential challengers to head of state Kais Saied have been sentenced to prison. Abir Moussi, a prominent critic of Saied who has already been imprisoned, was sentenced to two years in prison, according to a report by the state agency TAP. Her defense lawyers had submitted her papers for the presidential candidacy at the weekend. The competent court sentenced her on charges of insulting the electoral authority.

Five other potential candidates were also sentenced to eight months in prison each. They were banned from running for public office for life. They include the well-known politician Abdellatif al-Mekki, previously a member of the Islamist Ennahda party, and the radio and television presenter Nizar Chaari. According to Tunisian reports, they are accused of having bought votes while gathering supporters for their candidacy.

"Don't be afraid," Chaari told his supporters in a Facebook video. "The country needs all of us. States are never built through fear, intimidation and accusations of treason."

Tunisian League for Human Rights: The verdicts are "very dangerous"

The chairman of the Tunisian League for Human Rights, Bassam Trifi, on the other hand, described the sentences as "very dangerous". A lifelong ban on applying for public office is a novelty, he said. "The authorities have taken control of the judiciary in order to target political opponents." Free and fair elections are not possible in such a climate.

The former EU ambassador to Tunisia, Marc Pierini, spoke of "very sad developments". The principle of the rule of law "continues to be steadily dismantled by the incumbent president", Pierini wrote on Platform X.

The presidential election in Tunisia is scheduled for October 6. Saied has been in office since the end of 2019 and has submitted his application to run again. Since then, he has significantly expanded his power, including through a controversial new constitution. Prominent critics, lawyers and journalists have been arrested. Previously, Tunisia was considered the only country to make the transition to democracy after the uprisings in the Arab world from 2011.