Hundreds of demonstrators gathered on Sunday in the center of Tunisia’s capital to express their demands for the release of opposition officials, activists, and journalists who have been jailed as well as the setting of a firm date for free and fair presidential elections. This demonstration is a part of a broader reaction to the country’s worsening political and economic crises, which has been made worse by a recent spate of arrests aimed at prominent members of the legal community, the media, activism, and political dissent.
Tension increased when Sonia Dahmani, a well-known attorney known for her outspoken criticism of President Kais Saied, was arrested on Saturday after Tunisian police forcibly stormed the Deanship of Lawyers building. Two journalists were also arrested on the same day, indicating a more widespread crackdown on dissent and criticism of the government.
As President Saied’s first five-year term draws to an end, the Election Commission has promised that elections will take place on time, although it has not yet released an official date. After being first elected in a democratic manner in 2019, Saied drastically changed the political landscape in 2021 by abolishing the elected parliament and instituting a system of rule based on decrees. Many vehemently disagreed with his takeover of the judiciary, calling his moves a coup.
The opposition has frequently faced criticism from the president, who has charged them with putting their aspirations for the presidency before of taking part in parliamentary elections. Political tensions have escalated as a result of his assertion that their primary goal is still gaining presidential power.
Leaders of the opposition claim that the current political climate, which is marked by limitations on the media and the incarceration of well-known activists and opposition politicians, is unfit for free and fair elections. Imed Khemiri, a prominent Ennahda party leader and a participant in the coordinating Salvation Front, denounced the government during the demonstration on Sunday for fostering an environment of oppression that is incompatible with democratic procedures. “Politicians, attorneys, and journalists are being suppressed by the authorities, and there is no environment for free and fair elections today or tomorrow,” Khemiri said.
In addition, Khemiri emphasized how the recent raid on the attorneys’ offices set an unhealthy example and strengthened the perception that Saied’s administration is moving toward authoritarianism. For prospective presidential contenders, there are big implications and immense political risks. One of the front-runners, Abir Moussa, is still behind bars, while Mondher Zanaidi has announced his candidacy from France because he fears being arrested when he returns to Tunisia. To further complicate matters politically, President Saied has made unclear accusations of treason against certain contenders and their requests for foreign protection.
