TUNIS: Abir Moussi, a prominent Tunisian politician and vocal critic of President Kais Saied, has officially entered the presidential race despite being incarcerated. According to local media reports, Moussi’s legal team submitted her candidacy registration forms on Saturday for the upcoming October 6 presidential elections.
Radio station Mosaique FM reported that six members of Moussi’s legal team filed the necessary documents on her behalf. The candidate registration process, which began on Monday, is set to close at 5:00 p.m. (1600 GMT) on Tuesday. Moussi, who has been detained since October 3, is seeking to challenge Saied, who is campaigning for another term following his controversial power consolidation in 2021.
Moussi, 49, is the leader of the Free Destourian Party and a former parliament member. Her arrest occurred outside the presidential palace while she was attempting to challenge decrees issued by Saied that significantly altered Tunisia’s political landscape.
She faces serious charges, including “attacks that aim to change the form of government.” Her imprisonment and candidacy highlight the tense political climate in Tunisia, where Saied’s administration has faced criticism for its handling of opposition figures and democratic processes.
Political analysts suggest that Moussi’s bid for the presidency is fraught with challenges. Candidates are required to gather signatures from 10,000 registered voters, with at least 500 signatures from each constituency, or secure endorsements from lawmakers or local officials to be listed on the ballot.
The stringent requirements have been described as “an enormous number” by analyst Amine Kharrat, making it difficult for many contenders to qualify.
Moussi, an outspoken critic of both Saied and the Islamist opposition party Ennahdha, has been accused by detractors of aspiring to restore the authoritarianism of former president Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, who was overthrown during Tunisia’s 2011 uprising.
Other opposition figures who have been jailed, such as Issam Chebbi of the centrist party Al Joumhouri and Ghazi Chaouchi of the Democratic Current, also announced their intention to run but were unable to complete the process due to their detention. More than 20 of Saied’s opponents have been detained since a series of arrests began in February 2023.
Critics argue that the new, tougher endorsement requirements are designed to thwart potential challengers. Recent developments include the arrest of campaign staffers for various candidates, such as rapper-turned-businessman Karim Gharbi (K2Rhym) and media personality Nizar Chaari, over allegations related to obtaining endorsements.
On Thursday, a coalition of about 30 NGOs condemned the “arbitrary detention” of candidates and criticized the electoral authority for its perceived lack of independence and the monopolization of public space to favor Saied’s re-election efforts.
