People in Tunisia take to the streets once again for 'democracy': It was the country that started the Arab Spring

Hundreds of people gathered in the capital of Tunisia for a march to call for democracy and freedom. During the protest, demonstrators demanded a return to the democratic process, the reversal of changes to the election law, and an end to the crackdown on the opposition.

The march, organized by the 'Tunisian Network for Rights and Freedoms,' took place on Habib Bourguiba Avenue.

Protesters chanted slogans such as 'Freedom', 'No to a lifetime presidency', 'Absurd laws, theater-like elections', 'The people want to topple the regime' and 'Freedom for prisoners of conscience'.

3 CANDIDATES WERE PREVENTED FROM PARTICIPATING IN THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS

The head of the Tunisian Independent High Authority for Elections (ISIE), Farouk Bouasker, announced in a statement on August 10 that out of 17 applicants for the presidential election, only 3 had been accepted. He stated that President Kais Saied, People's Movement leader Zouhair Maghzaoui, and businessman Ayachi Zammel, who entered political life in 2020 as a member of parliament for the Long Live Tunisia party, would compete in the election to be held on October 6.

Some individuals whose candidacies were not accepted filed appeals with the Tunisian Administrative Court.

On September 2, the Tunisian Administrative Court ruled that there were no obstacles to the candidacies of Abdellatif Mekki, leader of the Work and Achievement Party who broke away from the Ennahda Movement Party that formed the pre-Saied government coalition; former minister Mondher Zenaidi; and Imed Daimi, a colleague of former President Moncef Marzouki.

However, the High Election Commission announced that the 3 previously announced candidates would compete in the elections, citing that the court decisions had not reached them.

On September 14, the Tunisian Administrative Court called for the approval of the candidacies of the 3 individuals whose applications for the presidential election to be held on October 6 had been rejected by the High Election Commission, despite the judicial ruling.

PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE ZAMMEL SENTENCED TO PRISON

The Court of Appeal upheld the 1-year and 8-month prison sentence given to the approved candidate Ayachi Zammel for 'making false statements.'

The Tunisian Independent High Authority for Elections has not yet made a statement regarding the presidential candidacy of Zammel, whose prison sentence has been finalized.

Last week, parliament approved a controversial legislative amendment that would transfer authority over election disputes from the administrative court to the Court of Appeal. This has caused the country's political polarization to deepen.

Tunisian presidential candidate Ayachi Zammel

News Source: AA