TUNIS, Sept 14 (Askume) – Tunisia’s top court on Saturday ordered the electoral commission to reinstate two candidates in October’s presidential vote, warning that failure to do so could jeopardise the legitimacy of the poll.
The move by the administrative court comes amid growing political tensions in the North African country, with the opposition and civil society groups fearing the election, which could give President Kais Saied a second term, was rigged.
Thousands of Tunisians took to the streets on Friday in the country’s biggest march in two years to protest what they say are restrictions on freedoms and an undemocratic electoral environment .
Protesters chanted slogans including “Overthrow the dictator”.
Tensions escalated earlier this month when the election commission rejected a court decision to reinstate the candidacy of Abdellah Mekki, Mondher Zenaidi and Imed Daemi ahead of the October 6 election, citing alleged irregularities in their candidacy applications.
Major political parties and civil society groups say the commission, whose members are personally appointed by the president, has become a tool in the hands of the president to fight his opponents.
Committee chairman Farouk Boućak denied the allegations and said “the committee is the only constitutional body responsible for the integrity of the elections”.
But the court said on Saturday that the commission was bound to implement its decision and review the electoral calendar if necessary. It is unclear whether this means postponing the election or going ahead with the campaign.
“Otherwise it would lead to illegal situations that are contrary to the electoral law and the transparency of the electoral process,” it said.
The court ordered Znaidi and Maki to compete after they filed new appeals against the committee’s decision. The third candidate, Deme, has not yet filed a second appeal.
Saied was democratically elected in 2019 but later tightened his control on power and began ruling by decree in 2021, a move the opposition called a coup.
