Tunisia: Judge imposes media ban on presidential candidate
After multiple accusations leveled at Tunisian President Kais Saied of weakening opposition parties through judiciary powers, a Tunisian judge has barred a potential presidential candidate from appearing in the media and touring the country on July 12th, reported Asharq Al-Awsat and agencies.
Reuters reported that the Labour and Achievement Party, which put forward Abd Ellatif Mekki for the presidential ballot, has called the measures an attempt to exclude a serious candidate for the election on October 6th.
Saied’s government has received strong criticism from opposition parties for manipulating the judicial system to eliminate the president’s rivals. Abir Moussi and Ghazi Chaouachi are two political leaders who have been imprisoned since last year.
Calls have been made to the Tunisian government to release imprisoned politicians and allow press freedom without government pressure.
READ: Tunisia: Saied sacks minister after pilgrimage deaths
Police arrested another candidate, Lotif Mraihi, on suspicion of money laundering last week. Mraihi, head of Tunisia’s Republic Union Party, stated on video that he has faced restrictions and harassment since he announced his plans to run in the election.
Reuters reported that Safi Saeed, Mondher Znaidi, and Nizar Chaari are other candidates facing prosecution for alleged crimes such as fraud and money laundering. Saied’s supporters have denied claims that opposition politicians have been targeted for political reasons.
Saied, elected in 2019, has not officially announced his candidacy but is expected to do so. The president stated last year that he would not hand over power to so-called “non-patriots.”
Ahmed Naffati, a prominent official in Mekki’s party, told Reuters that “Mekki is clearly targeted to obstruct his campaign to collect signatures from citizens and to contact them”.
In 2021, Saied dissolved the Tunisian parliament and began ruling by decree, a decision he called legal and necessary to end years of rampant corruption. The opposition decried the move as a coup.
Asharq Al-Awsat / The New Arab / Reuters
