President Kaïs Saïed has declared his candidacy for the upcoming presidential election, set to take place on October 6th. This announcement was made through a video posted on the official Facebook page of the presidency. The election comes amidst a political climate marked by restrictions on freedoms and the repression of political opponents.
President Saïed chose to make this significant announcement during a visit to Borj El Khadra, a location in the extreme south of Tunisia at the confluence of the Tunisian, Libyan, and Algerian borders. This site holds deep symbolic value, as emphasized by President Saïed in his speech: “I chose this place to reaffirm that Tunisia is a united state, from the northernmost point to the southernmost, and it will remain so, God willing,” he stated.
Following this solemn declaration, the President warned against infiltration and misinformation attempts during the electoral period. He urged citizens to reject any financial incentives in exchange for endorsing a candidate, emphasizing the integrity of the electoral process. Presidential hopefuls have until the end of the month to gather the necessary 10,000 endorsements required to formalize their candidacies.
The context of this election starkly contrasts with that of 2019, when President Saïed was elected with over 70% of the vote. Since his power consolidation three years ago, which included dissolving the Parliament and enacting a new constitution via referendum, President Saïed has maintained a tight grip on power. This has led to the imprisonment of most political opponents and critical voices, resulting in an environment lacking substantial opposition to his potential re-election.