2024 Tunisian presidential election: Difference between revisions

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2024 Tunisian presidential election

← 2019 6 October 2024 2029 →

Candidate Kais Saied Zouhair Maghzaoui Ayachi Zammel Party Independent People's Movement Azimoun

President before election Kais Saied Independent Elected President Kais Saied[citation needed] Independent

Presidential elections were held in Tunisia on 6 October 2024, to elect the President of the Republic of Tunisia.^[1] This is the first election of its kind since the promulgation of the 2022 Constitution. The election is boycotted by the majority of political parties. Candidates had to obtain the sponsorship of ten parliamentarians, forty local elected officials or 10,000 voters at a rate of at least 500 per constituency.

After rejecting many candidacies, including those of the main opponents of Kais Saied, the Independent High Authority for Elections confirmed the candidacies of two personalities outside the head of state, those of former deputies Zouhair Maghzaoui and Ayachi Zammel, but rejected those of Mondher Zenaidi, Abdellatif Mekki and Imed Daimi, who had been reinstated by the Administrative Court. This decision is however contrary to the Constitution, which stipulates that the decisions of the Administrative Court cannot be appealed.^{[citation needed]}

On 14 September, the Administrative Court ordered the Independent High Authority for Elections to accept these candidacies, which the latter refused, before the Assembly of the Representatives of the People, fearing that the latter would invalidate the presidential election, transferred, by a controversial amendment to the electoral law, the powers of the Administrative Court to the Court of Appeal of Tunis. For his part, a few weeks before the election, Ayachi Zammel, who had obtained the support of part of the opposition, was imprisoned and then sentenced to a total of thirteen years and eight months in prison in three trials for accusations of false sponsorship. The sentences against him were interpreted by several observers and non-governmental organizations as judicial harassment aimed at eliminating his candidacy. Similarly, the sidelining or imprisonment of other candidates were also denounced.

Politics of Tunisia
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Executive President (List) Kais Saied Prime Minister (List) Kamel Madouri Cabinet
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On 25 July 2021, Republic Day, after months of political crisis between President of the Republic, Kais Saied and the Assembly of the Representatives of the People, thousands of protesters demanded the latter's dissolution and a change of regime.^[2] The government was criticized for the catastrophic state of the economy and its inaction, which led in particular to the worsening of the health crisis linked to the COVID-19 pandemic.^[3] That same evening, invoking Article 80 of the 2014 Constitution, Kais Saied dismissed the Mechichi Cabinet with immediate effect, in particular Hichem Mechichi from his duties as head of government and interim Minister of the Interior, announced the suspension of the assembly (whose members he lifted their immunity), the formation of a new government (which would be accountable to him) and his decision to govern by decree; he also indicated that he would chair the prosecution.^[4] Ennahda immediately denounced a "coup d'état".^[5] This description of a coup d'état is shared by political analysts and lawyers.^[6]

On 22 September he confirmed by decree the extension of the decisions as well as the dissolution of the Provisional Authority responsible for monitoring the constitutionality of draft laws, and decided to suspend the salaries and benefits granted to the President of the Assembly of the Representatives of the People and its members,^[7] and granted himself the right to govern by decree, de facto recovering legislative power.^[8] His decision was criticized by most of the parties represented in Parliament.^[9] On 29, September the President tasked Najla Bouden with forming a new government. She thus became a pioneer in the country as well as in the Arab world.^[10] From 15 January to 20 March 2022, an electronic consultation took place on the reforms to be proposed in anticipation of the referendum.^[11] In the vote, which had a very low turnout, the options of a transition to a presidential system and a single-member constituency for the legislative elections prevailed.^[12] On 30 March 120 deputies, chaired by the second vice-president of the assembly Tarek Fetiti,^[13] met in a virtual session to vote on the end of the exceptional measures in force since 25 July. On the same day, Kais Saied dissolved Parliament, which the Constitution prohibits during the period when the state of emergency is applied, and threatened the deputies with legal action.^[14]

On 6 April, Kais Saied announced that the elections would be held by a two-round majority single-member constituency.^[15] On 5 September, he indicated that the electoral law would be drawn up taking into account the recommendations of the supporters of the 25 July process, and that the rest of the political class would be excluded from this process.^[16] The electoral law must be published by September 16 at the latest to meet the deadlines. On 25 July 2022, the new Constitution is adopted by constitutional referendum with 94.60% of the vote.^[17] A new electoral law is then published by decree on 15 September.^[18] The suspension of parliament is extended pending the investiture of the new legislature.^[19] In October 2024, a few days before the presidential election, several demonstrations take place in Tunis, with protesters calling for a boycott of the election.^[20]

The Independent High Authority for Elections has announced the following candidacy requirements^[21]:

• Be a voter registered on the electoral register.
• Be Tunisian without any other nationality born to a Tunisian father and mother with paternal and maternal grandparents who are all Tunisians.
• Be of the Muslim religion.
• Be at least 40 years old at the time of submitting the candidacy.
• Enjoy all their civil and political rights.
• Not have held the office of President of the Republic for two consecutive or separate terms.
• Not be subject to one of the following prohibitions: loss of the quality of elector and loss of the right to candidacy resulting from a conviction for the crimes mentioned in Articles 161 and 163 of the electoral law and Article 30 of the Penal Code.
• Have the required sponsorships from the following:
  • Ten members of the Assembly of People's Representatives or the National Council of Regions and Districts.
  • Forty presidents of local authorities, whether local, regional, or municipal councils; or
  • Ten thousand voters registered on the electoral lists spread across at least ten constituencies, each constituency having to have at least 500 voters.

• Hatem Boulabiar, former candidate in 2019, announced his candidacy in November 2020.^[22]
• Rached Ghannouchi, president of the Ennahda, would like to run according to a group of members of the movement.^[23]
• Adel Ltifi, an activist, announced in March 2022 that he would be a candidate.^[24][25]
• Nizar Chaari, former founder of the New Chartage movement, announced his candidacy in October 2022.
• Lotfi Mraïhi, founder of the Republican People's Union and candidate in 2019,^[26] announced his probable candidacy in January 2023 and confirmed it in April 2024.^[27][28]
• Fadhel Abdelkefi, former president of the Afek Tounes and former Minister of Finance, announced in February 2023 that he could be a candidate.^[29]
• Lazhar Akremi, journalist, lawyer and political activist, announced his candidacy during a judicial hearing in February 2023.
• Olfa Hamdi, president of the Third Republic Party, announced her candidacy in November 2023.^[30][31]
• Issam Chebbi, secretary general of Republican Party imprisoned since 25 February 2023, was proposed by his party as a candidate in March 2024.^[32]
• Néji Jalloul, president of the National Coalition party, former Minister of Education and candidate in 2019, announced in April 2024 that he would not rule out the possibility of a candidacy.^[33]
• Dhaker Lahidheb, cardiologist and former leader of the Democratic Current, announces his intention to run in April 2024.^[34]
• Actress Najoura Miled announces her intention to run in April 2024.^[35]
• Malek Saïhi, secretary general of the Young Tunisian Patriots movement and former candidate in the 2022–23 parliamentary election in the Nabeul constituency, announces his candidacy in July 2024.
• Kamel Akrout, former first national security adviser under the presidency of Beji Caid Essebsi,^[36][37] is considered a potential candidate and announces his candidacy in July 2024.^[38][39]
• Ghazi Chaouachi, former leader of the Democratic Current imprisoned since 25 February 2023, is a candidate.
• Hichem Meddeb, former spokesperson for the Ministry of the Interior, announced his candidacy in July 2024.
• Issam Guerfel, lawyer and former member of the Free Destourian Party, announced his candidacy in July 2024.
• Azmi Belhaj Ahmed, PhD in chemistry, announced his candidacy in July 2024.
• Abid Briki, Secretary General of Tunisia Forward and former candidate in 2019, could be a candidate for his party.^[40]
• Abdelmonem Belaâti, general and Minister of Agriculture, is expected to be a candidate.
• A candidate from the Democratic Current will probably be presented by the party.^[41]
• Karim Gharbi, known as K2Rhym, former rapper and son-in-law of President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali,^[42] denounces the country's catastrophic situation in terms of raw materials and the increasing repression of the media; he is running as an independent candidate.^[43] He claims that the authorities did not provide him with an extract from his criminal record, and he did not submit his application.^[44]

The submission of applications to the Independent High Authority for Elections begins on 29 July 2024 and is scheduled to last until 6 August. applications are finally submitted.^[45] The preliminary list of applications is scheduled to be announced on 11 August after the examination of the applications and the final list announced on 3 September.^[46]

• Fathi Ben Khemaïes Krimi, a day laborer who also filed his candidacy in 2019, submitted his candidacy on 29 July.
• Leila Hammami, an economics professor, advisor to international organizations, and civil society activist who announced her candidacy in July, filed her candidacy on 31.^[47]
• Yosri Slimane, a businessman, filed his candidacy on 2 August.
• Abir Moussi, president of the Free Destourian Party,^[48] announced in February 2022 that she would be her party's candidate.^[49] In detention since October 2023, her candidacy was filed by her defense committee on 3 August without a criminal record or sponsorships, following the ISIE's refusal to provide the necessary copy.^[50]
• Kais Saied, the outgoing President of the Republic,^[51] having officially announced his candidacy for his own re-election on 20 July filed it on 5 August.^[52][53]
• Ayachi Zammel, leader of the Azimoun, announced his intention to run in April 2024 and filed his candidacy on 5 August.^[54][55]
• Mondher Zenaidi, in exile in France,^[56] several times a minister under the presidency of Zine El Abidine Ben Ali and a candidate in 2014, officially announced his candidacy on 4 July and filed his candidacy on 5 August without the criminal record that was refused to him.^[57][58]
• Abdellatif Mekki, former Minister of Health and founder of the Work and Achievement movement, announced in August 2022 that he could run.^[59]
• Zouhair Maghzaoui, Secretary General of the People's Movement, filed his candidacy on 6 August.^[60]
• Safi Saïd, founder of the Gardens of Bees party and candidate in 2014 and 2019,^[61] announced his candidacy in April 2024 and filed his application on 6 August.^[62][63]
• Imed Daïmi, vice-president of Movement Party.^[64]

On 4 July 2024, the Independent High Authority for Elections announced changing the conditions regulating candidates to the presidential elections by issuing Ordinance 544 in which they raised the age limit of presidential candidates to 40 years old compared to the age limit of 35 years old currently enacted by the electoral law as well as adding other constraining requirements exceeding the electoral law requirements.^[65] This ordinance introducing new conditions for presidential elections is contested by multiple political parties in Tunisia such as the Third Republic Party and Attayar Party. Both parties filed lawsuits against the electoral committee for the annulment of Ordinance 544.^[66][67] A total of 17 candidates applied to run in the presidential election.^[68]

On 19 July 2024, a court barred Lotfi Mraïhi, the president of the Republican People's Union, from standing in elections for life after convicting him of vote-buying involving the 2019 presidential election. He was also sentenced to eight months' imprisonment.^[69] Several candidates and campaign workers were also arrested and sentenced to prison during the candidate registration process, including Abir Moussi, who received a two-year sentence for charges of spreading false news shortly after registering her candidacy on 3 August, as well as Nizar Chaari, who received an eight-month prison term on 5 August and had three of his campaign workers arrested on charges of forging signatures. Four staffers of Karim Gharbi's presidential campaign were also arrested on charges of buying signatures of endorsement.^[70]

Due to a new rule that states that a candidate must be at least 40 years old, Olfa Hamdi is automatically banned from participating.^[71] Rapper Karim Gharbi, widely known as K2Rhym has been convicted to four years in prison in absentia and banned from voting and running for the presidency for life.^[72] Presidential candidate Safi Said was arrested on 22 August 2024 and is in pre-trial detention.^[73] On 2 September Ayachi Zammel was arrested on suspicion of falsifying endorsements shortly before his candidacy was confirmed by the ISIE.^[74] On 18 September, he was sentenced to 20 months imprisonment for the charges. Despite this, he has pledged to continue his presidential campaign.^[75] He was sentenced to another six months' imprisonment on related charges on 25 September^[76] and an additional 12 years' imprisonment in four related cases on 1 October.^[77] On 27 September, the Assembly of the Representatives of the People voted to amend the country's election law by preventing the judiciary from interfering with decisions of the ISIE.^[78]

The preliminary applications were announced on 10 August. These were those of the outgoing president Kais Saied, Zouhair Maghzaoui and Ayachi Zammel.^[79] The other candidates saw their applications rejected, generally for a lack of sponsorships.^[80][81] Many of them and those who had given up running were prosecuted for suspicion of false sponsorships. On 2 September, the electoral authority confirmed the validation of the three applications, three other applications, those of Mondher Zenaidi, Abdellatif Mekki and Imed Daïmi, who had been reinstated by the Administrative Court, were however rejected.^[82] This decision is however contrary to the Constitution, which stipulates that the decisions of the Administrative Court cannot be appealed and that the role of the Independent High Authority for Elections is only technical. The president of the ISIE assures that the Administrative Court is not competent and claims that the latter did not notify the decision to reinstate these candidates, which the Administrative Court denies.^[83] This decision is denounced by the Tunisian General Labour Union and Human Rights Watch.^[84][85]

Daïmi is for his part referred by the ISIE for perjury regarding the failure to renounce his French nationality.^[86] For his part, Zenaidi announces that he is filing an appeal with the Administrative Court. On 14 September, the latter orders the ISIE to accept these candidacies.^[87] On 20 September, deputies submit a draft amendment to the electoral law, to remove the Administrative Court's prerogatives to validate the election results, in anticipation that it, independent unlike other jurisdictions, would invalidate the results of the presidential election.^[88] Entrusting the powers of the Administrative Court to the Court of Appeal, the law is adopted on 27 September.^[89]

Image	Candidates	Party	Reference
	Kais Saied	Independent	[90]
	Zouhair Maghzaoui	People's Movement	[91]
	Ayachi Zammel	Azimoun	[92]

The ISIE banned the groups I Watch and Mourakiboun from monitoring the election, alleging that they had received funds from overseas in a suspicious manner. In response, I Watch said it received foreign funding through legal means, while Mourakiboun called the claims "baseless".^[93]

SIGMA Conseil exit polling for state broadcaster Télévision Tunisienne suggested the following demographic breakdown.

Voting was held in 5,000 polling stations^[96] from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.^[97] Around 9.7 million people were eligible to vote.^[98] The turnout was 27.7%, compared to 45% in the 2019 election.^[99] Kais Saied is on course to win the presidential election with 89.2 percent of the vote, according to an exit poll, while Zammel was forecast to win 6.9%, followed by Maghzaoui at 3.9%.^[100]