Thousands of people have taken to the streets in Tunisia to protest attacks on democracy in the country a few hours before the presidential elections take place this Sunday, in which the current president, Kais Saied, hopes to revalidate his mandate. .
The protesters, convened by the Tunisian Network of Rights and Freedoms, have protested the undemocratic measures carried out during President Saied’s mandate, especially in recent months due to the disqualification of dozens of presidential candidates.
This comes after Parliament approved last week an amendment to the electoral law just nine days before the elections that allowed the Administrative Court to withdraw its ability to resolve electoral disputes.
The Administrative Court was considered by the Tunisian opposition to be the last independent judicial body after the latest reforms and mass dismissals of judges in 2022 by order of President Saied.
This Friday, a court in Tunisia ratified a sentence of one year and eight months in prison for politician Ayachi Zamel, one of the three presidential candidates, for alleged irregularities in collecting support for the vote.
Saied has been the focus of criticism from the opposition and activists, especially after assuming all powers in May 2021 after dissolving the Government and suspending Parliament, which was later dissolved. Various international organizations have also expressed their concern about the political situation in the country.
The opposition, mostly united around the National Salvation Front (FSN), has denounced Saied’s actions for more than two years and has demanded his resignation, especially given the wave of arrests of opponents, activists and journalists, as well as the low participation rates in the constitutional referendum and the elections held since then in Tunisia.
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