Tunisians head to streets in protest as election nears
The protests over what people claim is a skewed election process will take place near Habib Bourguiba Avenue in Tunis.
Tunisians protested in Tunis on Friday over what many see as a deeply unjust electoral process in which candidates have been arrested and barred from running.
The protest comes one day before campaigning for the election kicks off on Sept. 14, and as Tunisians are ringing alarm bells over a rise in authoritarianism.
Tunisia’s election commission, the Independent High Authority for Elections (ISIE), came under scrutiny in early September after approving only two candidates to challenge current Tunisian President Kais Saied in the upcoming Oct. 6 election. The ISIE’s move defied court rulings that other candidates would be allowed to run.
On Sept. 2, the electoral authority announced its approval of Ayachi Zammel, the leader of a small pro-business party, and Zouhair Maghzaoui, a former pan-Arabist member of parliament. The electoral authority rejected the 15 other candidates seeking to join the race.
