Controversial Tunisia Election: Prominent Candidates Barred Amid Vote-Buying Allegations

A Tunisian court has sentenced four potential presidential candidates to eight months in prison and barred them from running for office over vote-buying charges. Critics argue the move aims to eliminate serious contenders of President Kais Saied. Saied denies imposing any restrictions on his rivals.

A Tunisian court has sentenced four potential presidential candidates to eight months in prison and banned them from contesting the upcoming elections over allegations of vote buying. Politicians and a lawyer informed Reuters that the ruling appears to target serious competitors to incumbent President Kais Saied, thereby fueling opposition fears.

The decision impacts prominent figures such as Abdel Latif Mekki, activist Nizar Chaari, Judge Mourad Massoudi, and Adel Dou. Mokthar Jmai, a lawyer for one of the candidates, confirmed the sentences. Ahmed Nafatti, Mekki's campaign manager, labeled the move as ''unfair'' and pledged to proceed with Mekki's candidacy.

In a parallel development, another court sentenced Abir Moussi, a key opponent of Saied, to two years in prison for allegedly insulting the election commission. This follows the recent sentencing of another critic, Lotfi Mraihi, to eight months for vote buying. Critics allege that Saied's administration is pressuring the judiciary to eliminate rivals, an accusation Saied firmly denies.

Meanwhile, the election commission has imposed additional restrictions, demanding police records from candidates, a requirement that the interior ministry has allegedly obstructed. Such actions have been condemned as efforts to revert to the pre-revolution era of authoritarian rule in Tunisia.

(With inputs from agencies.)