Tunisian President to seek re-election, pledges to continue ‘battle for national liberation’

Tunisian President Kais Saied has declared his intention to seek re-election in the upcoming presidential election set for Oct. 6, pledging to continue his efforts in what he describes as a battle for national liberation.

“I officially announce my candidacy for the Oct. 6 presidential election to keep up the fight in the battle for national liberation,” Saied said in a video released by his office on Friday.

Speaking from the southern region of Tataouine, the 66-year-old president emphasized that he was answering the “country’s sacred call,” leaving him no choice but to run for a second term.

Opposition calls for fair elections, media freedom

Saied, who has ruled by decree since suspending parliament in July 2021, faces a challenging political landscape.

The opposition has voiced concerns about the fairness and credibility of the upcoming elections, asserting that free and fair elections cannot occur unless imprisoned politicians are released and the media is allowed to operate without government pressure.

Key challengers face legal challenges, imprisonment

Several potential challengers who had announced their candidacy are either in prison or facing prosecution.

One of Saied’s most prominent critics, Lotfi Mraihi, the head of the opposition Republican Union party, received an eight-month sentence earlier on Friday on charges of vote buying and a lifetime ban on running for president.

Mraihi was arrested in July on suspicion of money laundering.

In his announcement, Saied called on “everyone preparing to sponsor [candidates] to steer off any corruption,” underscoring his commitment to combating corruption despite the contentious political climate.

The upcoming election will be a critical moment for Tunisia, which has faced significant political and economic challenges in recent years.