HRW calls on Tunisia to stop its ‘political interference’ in presidential elections

The international human rights organisation Human Rights Watch (HRW) yesterday called on the Tunisian government to stop what it considered “political interference” in the presidential election scheduled for 6 October.

In a statement, HRW said: “Tunisian authorities should urgently end politically motivated prosecutions and allow for free and fair elections.”

President Kais Saied has repeatedly said that the judicial system in his country is independent and that he does not interfere in its affairs, however the opposition accuses him of using the judiciary to prosecute his opponents and potential competitors in the presidential election.

Bassam Khawaja, deputy Middle East and North Africa director at HRW, said: “After jailing dozens of prominent opponents and activists, Tunisian authorities have removed almost all serious contenders from the presidential race, reducing this vote to a mere formality.”

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Khawaja called on the Tunisian government to “immediately end its political interference in the electoral process, reverse repressive measures, and allow opposition candidates to take part in the ballot.”

According to the organisation, “At least eight prospective candidates have been convicted and sentenced to prison terms or lifetime bans on running for election since the start of the electoral period on July 14, with others experiencing harassment and intimidation.”

These candidates include Head of the Action and Achievement Party and former Health Minister Adellatif Mekki, TV host Nizar Chaari, former judge Mourad Messaoudi, retired military Colonel Mohamed Adel Dou, and academic Leila Hammami.

The figures also include rapper and businessman Karim Gharbi, head of the Free Destourian Party Abir Moussi, and head of the Republican Union Party Lotfi Mraihi, according to the statement.

Of the 17 candidates who submitted their interest to run in the ballot, the electoral commission has accepted only three: the current President Kais Saied, the Secretary-General of the People’s Movement, Zouhair Maghzaoui, and the head of the Azimoun Movement, Ayachi Zammel.

Last April, the National Salvation Front, the largest opposition coalition, announced that it would not participate in the elections, claiming that the conditions for competition were not present.

Meanwhile, the authorities say that the elections meet the conditions of integrity, transparency and fair competition.

Saied has held nearly total power since 25 July 2021 when he sacked the prime minister, suspended parliament and assumed executive authority citing a national emergency.

He appointed a prime minister on 29 September of the same year and a government was later formed. In December 2021, Saied announced that a referendum will be held on 25 July to consider ‘constitutional reforms’ and elections would follow in December 2022.

The majority of the country’s political parties slammed the move as a “coup against the constitution” and the achievements of the 2011 revolution. Critics say Saied’s decisions have strengthened the powers of the presidency at the expense of parliament and the government, and that he aims to transform the country’s government into a presidential system.

On more than one occasion, Saied, who began a five-year presidential term in 2019, said that his exceptional decisions are not a coup, but rather measures within the framework of the constitution to protect the state from “imminent danger”.

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