The European Union on Thursday denounced attacks on democracy in Tunisia following the arrest of a presidential candidate and the exclusion of three other candidates. “The latest developments demonstrate a continued limitation of democratic space” in Tunisia, deplored a spokesperson for the EU diplomatic service in a statement.
“The rule of law and respect for the separation of powers are at the heart of democratic values, as are electoral and fair trial rights.”she further stressed. A few weeks before the presidential election on October 6, the EU is saying this: “regret” a decision by the electoral authorities which, according to Brussels, has the consequence of “limiting the range of choices for Tunisian citizens”. “This decision comes on top of the arrests and sentencing to prison of political figures in recent weeks, including some potential candidates for the presidential election.”the statement added.
Tunisian presidential candidate Ayachi Zammel was placed in pre-trial detention on Wednesday as part of an investigation into suspicions of “falsification of sponsorships”announced his lawyers. This decision comes after the exclusion from the race of three other candidates, considered serious rivals to the outgoing president, Kais Saied – running for a second term – by the Electoral Authority (ISIE) earlier this week. President Saied, democratically elected in 2019, has been accused of authoritarianism since a coup on July 25, 2021 by which he granted himself full powers.
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