Tunisia election protests/ Tunisian anti-government protests/ Kais Saied protests/ Newslooks/ TUNIS/ Tunisia/ Tunisia’s presidential campaign officially began on Saturday, just a day after large protests erupted in the capital over worsening economic and political conditions. Hundreds of demonstrators marched peacefully, criticizing President Kais Saied’s government, accusing it of creating a police state, and calling for change. The protests come as Saied seeks re-election in October, amidst growing unrest, economic challenges, and concerns about civil liberties in the country.
Tunisia’s Presidential Race Begins Amid Protests: Quick Looks
- Protests Erupt in Tunis: Hundreds of Tunisians protested against deteriorating economic and political conditions, demanding change.
- Growing Discontent: Demonstrators voiced concerns about rising costs of living, civil liberties, and the increasing number of political arrests under President Kais Saied.
- Election Campaign Launched: Tunisia’s presidential campaign began Saturday, with President Saied seeking a second term despite mounting opposition.
- Opposition Crackdown: Key opposition figures have been arrested or barred from running in the election, raising concerns about democracy.
Tunisian Presidential Campaign Kicks Off Amid Protests, Political Tensions
Deep Look
The presidential campaign in Tunisia officially kicked off on Saturday, just a day after hundreds of citizens flooded the streets of the capital, Tunis, in protest. Demonstrators expressed frustration over economic hardships and what they see as the country’s drift toward authoritarianism under President Kais Saied. Many of the protestors called for an end to what they described as a police state, in one of the largest demonstrations since a series of arrests began earlier this year.
Carrying signs like “Where is freedom? Where is democracy?” and chanting slogans reminiscent of Tunisia’s 2011 Arab Spring revolution, protesters decried both the country’s economic struggles and political oppression. The demonstrators voiced particular anger over rising living costs, shortages of basic goods such as sugar and cooking oil, and the erosion of civil liberties under Saied’s rule.
Political Climate and the Rise of Discontent
Tunisia, which was once lauded as a success story of the Arab Spring, has faced significant challenges in recent years. Unemployment has spiked to one of the highest rates in the region, currently standing at 16%, and the country’s economy continues to struggle. In response to this, many of the protesters on Friday highlighted the worsening economic conditions alongside political repression as central reasons for their dissent.
“We’re here to say no to what’s happening and to show that not everyone agrees with the state of the country,” said Khaled Ben Abdeslam, a father and urban development consultant. He, like many others, expressed frustration over the growing number of political arrests and the shrinking space for free speech. “Nobody dares to speak out anymore,” Ben Abdeslam added, pointing to Tunisia’s Interior Ministry as the protest neared.
This demonstration capped off a tense week in which the opposition party Ennahda reported that many of its top members were arrested, signaling an escalation in the government’s crackdown on political dissent. Meanwhile, President Saied is gearing up for his re-election campaign, which officially started on Saturday. Saied came to power in 2019, promising to rid the country of corruption, and won over many voters frustrated with Tunisia’s post-revolution political chaos.
A Shift Toward Authoritarianism?
Since his election, Saied has faced criticism for consolidating power, including freezing the Tunisian parliament and rewriting the constitution. While he initially garnered support with his populist rhetoric and promises of reform, his administration has been increasingly accused of targeting journalists, activists, and political opponents. Figures across the political spectrum have been arrested, and in the lead-up to the election, there are growing concerns about Saied’s commitment to democracy.
In the months before his re-election bid, opposition figures were arrested and barred from running. Notably, Ayachi Zammel, one of the two candidates set to challenge Saied in the upcoming election, was arrested soon after his candidacy was approved. Many fear he will face a lifetime ban from politics, similar to other political rivals of the president.
The Tunisian Network for the Defense of Rights and Freedoms, a coalition of civil society groups and political parties, organized the protests to draw attention to what they describe as increasing authoritarianism. Anger among opposition groups and citizens intensified after Tunisia’s election authority, comprised of Saied appointees, ignored court rulings and barred key challengers from the presidential race.
The Road to the Presidential Election
With Tunisia’s political future at stake, voters will head to the polls on October 6 for the presidential election. However, the country’s deteriorating political climate and ongoing crackdown on opposition figures have raised concerns over the election’s fairness.
For Hajer Mohamed, a 33-year-old assistant at a law firm, the worsening political and economic situation in Tunisia is deeply troubling. She and her friends had been optimistic after the 2011 revolution, but now fear the freedoms they gained are disappearing. “We never thought that after the 2011 revolution, we’d live to see the country in this suffocating situation,” Mohamed said. “Even under former dictator Ben Ali, the situation wasn’t as scandalous as it is today.”
As election day nears, the stakes for Tunisia’s political stability grow higher. The re-election bid by President Saied, set against a backdrop of protests and political repression, has made the country’s future more uncertain than ever.
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