The Committee for Justice (CFJ) has released its fourth bulletin on monitoring the presidential elections in Tunisia as part of its “Right to Free Elections” project, which covers the activities and practices of the electoral process for the period from August 23 to August 29, 2024.
In a surprising move, on August 25, the outgoing president, Kais Saied, appointed new heads for nineteen ministerial portfolios, including the Ministries of Interior and Defense, without providing any reason for the sudden reshuffle.
– Status of Electoral Appeals:
The Tunisian Administrative Court set August 29 as the date to announce its rulings regarding disputes related to presidential candidacies. The court reinstated candidates Abdelatif Al-Makki and Mondher Al-Ziyadi into the presidential race. However, it rejected the appeals of candidate Naji Jalloul and candidates Abir Moussi and Bachir Al-Aouni, and extended the date for ruling on the appeal of Imed Daimi.
– Judicial Pressure on Candidates:
On August 19, confirmed presidential candidate Al-Ayachi Zammel appeared before the Summer Criminal Chamber of the Tunisian Court of First Instance 2, accused of “suspicion of forging” endorsements submitted in support of his presidential candidacy.
– Opposition to Restrictions on Election Monitoring:
The Tunisian League for the Defense of Human Rights, in a statement dated August 26, 2024, expressed concerns that current indicators suggest that the upcoming presidential elections cannot be free and transparent. In addition, organizations such as the “Faithful Coalition for Democracy and Electoral Integrity,” the “Tunisian Mediterranean Center,” the “Monitors Network,” and the “Ibsaar Association for Culture and Entertainment for the Visually Impaired” issued a joint statement condemning the exclusion of journalists and several organizations from the right to cover and monitor the presidential elections.
This newsletter provides an overview of the latest developments in the Tunisian presidential election process, highlighting significant violations of civil and political rights, as well as breaches of the electoral law. It also focuses on the ongoing challenges faced by candidates and the measures taken by authorities that undermine the integrity of the electoral process.
