In Tunisia, hundreds of protesters marched again on Sunday, accusing President Kais Saied of deepening authoritarianism ahead of the October 6 presidential election. Demonstrators gathered along Tunis’ main avenue, a historic focal point of the 2011 Arab Spring revolution, voicing concerns over Saied’s tightening control. The protest came after lawmakers proposed legislation stripping the administrative court of its authority to oversee electoral disputes, a move seen by the opposition as undermining the election’s credibility.
Political tensions have been on the rise since the electoral commission, appointed by Saied, disqualified three prominent presidential candidates, despite opposition from the administrative court. Critics claim Saied is using his influence over the judiciary and electoral processes to eliminate competition and secure a second term. One of the remaining candidates, Ayachi Zammel, is currently serving a prison sentence, which he alleges is politically motivated.
Saied, who was elected in 2019, consolidated power by suspending parliament and ruling by decree in 2021, actions described by opponents as a coup. This political shift has had repercussions for Tunisia's transitional justice efforts, including the stalled Dignity and Rehabilitation Fund, meant to deliver reparations to victims of past authoritarian regimes. Since Saied’s power grab, the head of the dignity fund was dismissed, and no official updates have been provided about its work, raising concerns about the future of transitional justice and democratic progress in Tunisia.
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