TUNIS: Tunisian court on Tuesday allowed prominent opposition Tunisian politician Abdellatif Mekki to resume his bid for the presidency in an election expected on October 6.
The electoral commission had barred Mekki from the race because he lacked popular endorsements. A judicial official, Faycel Boguira, told Western media that the court’s decision was final and could not be challenged.
Tunisia’s administrative court will issue more rulings this week regarding other politicians who have filed appeals after the commission also dismissed their candidacy papers. They include Mondher Zenaidi, Abir Moussi and Imed Daimi.
The decision of the court adds Mekki, head of the Action and Achievement Party, to a list of accepted presidential candidates that also includes the incumbent, President Kais Saied, and politicians Zouhair Maghzaoui and Ayachi Zammel.
Mekki was a prominent official in the Islamist Ennahda party but left it to found a rival party in 2022. However, he still enjoys widespread support among supporters of Ennahda, one of Tunisia’s biggest political parties.
“The court decision is fair and highlights the image of the administrative court, known for its integrity even in the darkest periods in Tunisia’s history,” Ahmed Nafati, Mekki’s campaign manager, told Reuters.
Tunisian opposition parties, politicians and human rights groups have accused the authorities of using restrictions to help ensure the re-election of Saied.
Saied, who dissolved parliament and seized control of all powers in 2021 said last year “he would not hand over the country to non-patriots.”
