In Tunisia, the streets of the capital were the scene of demonstrations on Friday, just two days before the presidential election. This election, widely seen as a foregone conclusion, should see the re-election of outgoing President Kais Saied, who has dismissed or imprisoned many of his opponents.
The demonstrators, mainly young people, expressed their refusal to participate in this election, denouncing a process devoid of democratic guarantees.
Among them, Siwar Gmati, a 27-year-old activist involved in a Tunisian electoral monitoring organization, firmly expressed her rejection of the vote: “No, absolutely no, I will not vote,” she declared. She justified her decision by pointing to the absence of credible candidates, as well as the irregularities of the electoral process, leaving “no guarantee for a transparent and free election”.
A boycott supported by the opposition
Opposition parties, denouncing the controversial actions of the electoral authority appointed by Mr. Saied, called for a boycott of the vote. These decisions include, among other things, the arrest of several candidates, accentuating the climate of mistrust regarding the election.
Kais Saied, elected in 2019 as a political outsider, then promised to inaugurate a “new Tunisia”, by giving more power to young people and local governments. However, his actions since coming to power, including rewriting the constitution to consolidate his authority, have drawn strong criticism, both domestically and internationally. Tunisian authorities have also arrested journalists, lawyers, activists and members of civil society, reinforcing the perception of a decline in freedoms in the country.
A democracy in decline
This Sunday’s presidential election will be the third since the 2011 revolution, which led to the fall of Zine El Abidine Ben Ali during the Arab Spring. This election is seen as a test of the trajectory taken by Tunisian democracy, which seems to be moving away from its initial ideals under the presidency of Kais Saied.
Present during the demonstration, Hamma Hammami, spokesperson for the Tunisian Workers’ Party, welcomed the refusal of young people to submit to what he considers a return to an authoritarian state. “I am very happy to hear them today say no to a new police state,” he said.
A difficult socio-economic context
Beyond criticism of the electoral process, young Tunisian protesters also face growing economic difficulties. The unemployment rate, which stands at 16%, is among the highest in the region, particularly affecting this segment of the population.
As the country prepares to go to the polls, the climate of disillusionment and frustration seems to dominate, particularly among young Tunisians, whose hopes for a more inclusive democracy and a better future have faded over time. years.
Related News :