Tunisia’s highest court had on Saturday called for the electoral commission to reinstall two candidates for a presidential poll in October, with the warning that failing to do so could endanger the legitimacy of the election.
The move by the Administrative Court is coming amid the mounting political tension in the country, coupled with anxiety from the opposition and civil society groups about a rigged election that would lead to President Kais Saied winning a second term.
Thousands of Tunisians had took to the streets on Friday in the country’s biggest march in two years, remonstrating against the prohibitions on freedoms and the undemocratic electoral climate.
The protesters had chanted “Out with dictator Saied” in anger.
Tensions had risen after the electoral commission had earlier this month, rejected the court’s decision to restore the candidacy of Abdellaif Mekki, Mondher Znaidi and Imed Daimi ahead of the October 6 elections, citing “alleged irregularities” in their candidacy filings.
Consequently, major parties and civil society groups had asserted that the commission, whose members were chosen by the president himself, had became a tool in the hands of the president against his rivals.
But Farouk Bouasker, the commission’s head had denied the accusations, saying that “the commission was the only constitutional body entrusted with the integrity of the election”.
The court had however on Saturday, said that the commission was obligated to implement its decision and, if necessary, review the electoral calendar but this declaration did not clear up the confusion on whether it will mean postponing the election or extending the campaign timeframe.
The court had ordered Znaidi and Mekki to be included in the race, after the duo filed a new complaint against the commission’s decision. The third candidate, Daimi, has yet to file for a second appeal.
