A Tunisian appeals court has confirmed the imprisonment sentence of 20 months handed down to presidential candidate Ayachi Zammel just days before the upcoming elections on Sunday. Zammel, a businessman and the leader of the liberal Azimoun party, was convicted on charges of falsifying electoral endorsements. Despite the ruling, his lawyer clarified that the sentence can still be appealed and will not prevent Zammel from continuing his candidacy.
The Oct. 6 elections will see Zammel competing against the incumbent, President Kais Saied, and Zouhair Maghzaoui of the leftist People’s Movement. Observers have noted that serious contenders to Saied’s presidency have been excluded from the race, raising concerns about the fairness of the electoral process.
The country’s election commission has faced criticism for its refusal to reinstate three other presidential candidates, even after they won their court appeals to participate. This has led to accusations that the commission is not independent and is favoring Saied’s re-election bid, claims that the commission has denied.
The upcoming vote is taking place amid a climate of increasing repression, with critics accusing President Saied of silencing dissent, restricting media freedom, and undermining judicial independence. Since 2021, Saied has been accused by the opposition of staging a "coup" after dissolving the parliament and calling for early elections to consolidate his power. Human Rights Watch has also raised alarms about the deteriorating political environment in Tunisia.
