Tunisian President Kais Saied Files Papers to Run for Reelection Amid Limited Competition
Tunisian President Kais Saied has taken a significant step towards seeking a second term in office by submitting his candidacy papers for the October presidential election. The move comes as expected, given the limited competition he is likely to face, with several potential challengers already imprisoned or facing legal troubles.
Saied, who has been in power since 2019, submitted a total of 242,224 signatures from registered voters to the Independent High Authority for Elections (ISIE) to qualify for the October 6 ballot. The ISIE requires candidates to gather at least 10,000 signatures to be included on the ballot.
While Saied appears set to face little competition, four other candidates have also gathered signatures to run, including Abir Moussi, a right-wing critic of the president who has been behind bars since she staged a protest outside his residence last year. Moussi’s attorneys filed her paperwork on Sunday, according to reports.
The Tunisian government will publish a complete list of candidates by Saturday, ahead of the election. Political participation has waned in Tunisia since the country’s longtime dictator Zine El Abidine Ben Ali was overthrown in 2011. Last year’s local elections saw a turnout of just 11%, a significant decline from previous years.
The presidential election is seen as a crucial test of democracy in Tunisia, which has struggled to maintain stability and political participation since the Arab Spring uprisings. The country’s democracy has been marked by frequent protests, political crises, and economic challenges, leading to concerns about the future of its democratic institutions.
As the election approaches, Tunisians will be closely watching to see if Saied’s rivals can mount a credible challenge or if the president will face a largely unopposed bid for reelection.
