Tunisians have taken to the streets in protest against President Kais Saied ahead of the upcoming October 6 election. Demonstrators are accusing Saied of limiting the number of candidates allowed to challenge him.
Among the protesters, Mustapha Ben Ali voiced his frustration, stating, “We are here to protest because the president, after five years in power, is preventing a fair election as his term comes to an end.”
A significant number of young people were also present, with some refusing to participate in the vote. “No, I won’t vote. There’s no candidate I can support, and the process lacks transparency,” said 27-year-old Siwar Gmati.
Tunisia’s electoral commission, appointed by Saied, has only approved two other candidates for the election, despite calls for a broader field. Human Rights Watch reported in August that several potential candidates were excluded through prosecution or imprisonment.
Since coming to power in 2019, Saied has dissolved parliament and introduced a new constitution to strengthen his control, while his administration has cracked down on critics by arresting lawyers, journalists, and activists.
