Tunisia’s electoral authority has approved three presidential candidates for the upcoming October 6 election, including incumbent President Kais Saied.
The High Independent Authority for Elections (ISIE) had initially rejected their candidacies, citing insufficient endorsements, a decision upheld even after the candidates won their appeals at the Administrative Court.
The ISIE declared its initial list “definitive and not subject to appeal,” stating that the court had failed to communicate its decisions within the legal 48-hour deadline.
As the election approaches, former parliamentarian Zouhair Maghzaoui and businessman Ayachi Zammel are the only candidates set to challenge Saied, who is considered the frontrunner.
However, Zammel was arrested earlier on Monday for allegedly lying about details of his campaign, according to his team.
He is the only approved candidate to face arrest, joining other presidential hopefuls who have been imprisoned or are under prosecution.
The ISIE’s decision has sparked concern among civil society groups and prominent Tunisians, who have called for the inclusion of the rejected candidates to ensure the transparency and integrity of the electoral process.
The petition emphasized that the administrative court’s rulings are final and should be respected.
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