A Tunisian court has ruled in favor of opposition leader Abdellatif Mekki, allowing him to continue his presidential campaign ahead of the anticipated October 6 election, sources told Reuters on Tuesday.
Mekki had been disqualified by the electoral commission over insufficient popular endorsements. Judicial official Faycel Boguira confirmed that the court’s ruling is final and cannot be contested.
Further rulings from Tunisia’s administrative court are expected this week concerning appeals by politicians such as Mondher Zenaidi, Imed Daimi, and Abir Moussi, whose candidacies were similarly rejected by the electoral commission.
With its latest decision, the court has reinstated Abdellatif Mekki, leader of the Action and Achievement Party, among the confirmed candidates, joining President Kais Saied, Ayachi Zammel, and Zouhair Maghzaoui.
Once a leading figure in the Islamist Ennahda party, Abdellatif Mekki broke away in 2022 to establish his own rival political party.
Despite this, he still retains significant backing from Ennahda supporters, one of Tunisia’s most influential political groups.
“The court decision is fair and highlights the integrity of the administrative court, which has maintained its reputation even during Tunisia’s most difficult times,” Mekki’s campaign manager, Ahmed Nafati, told Reuters.
Opposition parties, politicians, and human rights groups in Tunisia have accused the authorities of using “arbitrary restrictions” and intimidation to secure President Saied’s re-election. They
The electoral commission has been accused of bias and of trying to eliminate serious competitors to secure Saied’s victory, but the commission denies these claims.
Saied, who dissolved parliament and took over all powers in what the opposition calls a coup in 2021, declared last year that he “would not hand over the country to non-patriots”.
The country continues to experience ongoing political changes, including a major cabinet reshuffle, amidst social and economic challenges
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