Tunisia Holds Presidential Election Amid Controversy

Voters and officials gather outside a polling station during the presidential elections, in the capital Tunis, Tunisia, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Anis Mili)

Tunisians went to the polls on Sunday to participate in the country's third presidential election since the Arab Spring uprising. The election features three candidates vying for the presidency: incumbent President Kais Saied, imprisoned businessman Ayachi Zammel, and leftist Zouhair Maghzaoui.

President Saied, at 66 years old, is seen as the frontrunner in the race, largely due to his crackdown on opponents and efforts to consolidate executive power by removing checks and balances. However, the election has faced criticism from the opposition, with many boycotting the contest citing concerns over the lack of democratic conditions for a fair election.

Initially, dozens of candidates expressed interest in challenging President Saied, with 17 submitting preliminary paperwork to run. However, the election commission, appointed by the president, only approved three candidates while disregarding a court ruling to reinstate three others.

Election faced opposition criticism for lack of democratic conditions.

Incumbent President Saied leads the race with controversial consolidation of power.

Initially, 17 candidates sought presidency, but only three were approved.

Opposition candidates were disregarded despite a court ruling to reinstate them.

One of the candidates, Ayachi Zammel, was later imprisoned on charges of forging voter signatures to qualify for the ballot. His attorney has denied the allegations.

Tunisia's presidential election marks a significant moment in the country's history, following the 2011 ouster of President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali during the Arab Spring uprisings. The election outcome will determine the leadership of the North African nation for the next five years.