The Tunisian Administrative Court has upheld an appeal by prominent candidate Mondher Znaidi, allowing him to rejoin the presidential race scheduled for October 6, according to a judicial official. This marks the second such ruling this week. The decision is expected to invigorate the election campaign and potentially intensify the competition for incumbent President Kais Saied, who is vying for a second term.
The Administrative Court also reinstated Abdellatif Mekki into the race on Tuesday, after his candidacy was initially rejected by the electoral commission. Judicial official Faycel Bouguera confirmed that the court’s decision on Thursday is final and not subject to further appeal. Znaidi, a former minister under the late president Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, who was ousted in 2011, resides in Paris and advocates for the reconstruction of Tunisia, unity among all Tunisians, and the end of divisions fostered by Saied.
Znaidi aims to capitalize on dissatisfaction with Saied’s governance over the past five years and the subsequent rule of Islamists post-revolution to secure votes in the upcoming election. He also seeks to garner support from former regime loyalists, viewed as a significant electoral base. The court’s ruling adds Znaidi to the roster of approved candidates, which includes Saied, Ayachi Zammel, Zouhair Maghzaoui, and Abdelattif Mekki.
Tunisian opposition parties, politicians, and human rights organizations have accused the authorities of employing arbitrary restrictions and intimidation tactics to facilitate Saied’s re-election. They allege that the electoral commission is biased and aims to eliminate credible challengers to ensure Saied’s win, a claim the commission denies. Saied, who dissolved parliament and assumed full control in 2021, a move decried by the opposition as a coup, declared last year that he would not relinquish the country to non-patriots.
