As expected, Tunisian President Kais Saied has officially announced his candidacy for the upcoming presidential election on October 6.
The incumbent president has declared his bid for a second term. "I officially announce my candidacy for the presidential election on October 6 (...) to continue the battle in the service of national liberation,” said Kais Saied.
Kais Saied has been the President of Tunisia since October 23, 2019. Since his election, He has undertaken a series of measures aimed at strengthening presidential authority and centralizing power. In July 2021, he invoked Article 80 of the Constitution to declare a state of emergency, suspend Parliament, and dismiss the Prime Minister, justifying these actions by the need to restore order and fight corruption. This decision was criticized by his opponents as a constitutional coup.
The dissolution of Parliament in March 2022 marked another step in consolidating his control. Concurrently, Kais Saied implemented a referendum in July 2022 to adopt a new Constitution, which was approved with low electoral participation but sufficient to validate the process. This new Constitution grants extensive powers to the president, reducing the role of Parliament and the government, and modifying the judicial system to increase presidential influence.
Despite international and local criticisms, Kais Saied has continued his centralization policies. He also revamped the electoral system in November 2022, making it more difficult for political parties to field effective candidates. The electoral reforms included stringent requirements for independent candidacies, making the Tunisian political landscape more fragmented and thereby facilitating the re-election of an incumbent president.
Saied’s methods have raised concerns about the erosion of democratic freedoms in Tunisia. The control of media and restrictions imposed on protests have minimized the visibility of the opposition, thus consolidating the outgoing president’s influence over public discourse.
For his detractors, Kais Saied represents a threat to Tunisia’s nascent democracy, using institutions to cement his personal power.
The October 6 election is shaping up to be crucial for Tunisia's future.