Tunisia’s Road to Autocracy: President Saied’s Controversial Rule and Upcoming Election

Kais Saied, a constitutional specialist and the president of Tunisia, has been in power since July 25, 2021. His takeover of all powers led to significant upheaval in the young democracy that emerged from the initial uprising of the “Arab Spring”. On October 6, he announced an upcoming presidential election, marking a key development in the political landscape.

Saied was democratically elected in October 2019. However, following his takeover of power, he dismissed the Prime Minister and froze Parliament before eventually dissolving it. In the summer of 2022, a new Constitution was adopted by referendum, establishing a new two-chamber system with limited powers. This shift transformed Tunisia from a parliamentary regime to an ultra-presidentialist system.

Since spring 2023, prominent opposition figures have been detained. Critics argue that there has been a crackdown on dissent, with many individuals labeled as “terrorists” for expressing opposing views. Human rights organizations like Amnesty International have condemned these actions as politically motivated.

In addition to political turmoil, Tunisia faces significant economic challenges. The country has slow growth rates and high unemployment levels. It has also become a hub for migrants seeking to reach Europe through dangerous sea crossings. President Saied’s policies have drawn criticism from international bodies like the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights due to his xenophobic stance towards sub-Saharan African migrants.

The upcoming presidential election lacks suspense due to Saied’s potential candidacy and the weakened state of opposition parties being key factors. While Saied has not officially declared his intention to run again, restrictions on opposition activities and detention of key leaders make it difficult for them to mobilize support effectively.

The National Salvation Front (FSN), which is made up of various opposition parties and leaders such as Abir Moussi from the Free Destourian Party (PDL), may present a unified candidate in the upcoming election.

Overall, Tunisia faces significant challenges both politically and economically under President Saied’s leadership, which may impact future elections and further cement his autocratic tendencies if he decides to run again for office or remains in power beyond his term limit without being held accountable for his actions towards human rights violations and other issues affecting Tunisian citizens’ lives and freedoms.