Lack of observers signals government crackdown ahead of Tunisian elections: Video
Tunisians are preparing for presidential elections, however, concerns are mounting over a stifled political environment characterised by limited rights and a lack of independent oversight.
Incumbent President Kais Saied is expected to be the frontrunner in the election, which takes place amid the absence of jailed political opponents and the barring of election watchdogs from monitoring the electoral process.
The Head of the Tunisian League for Human Rights (LTDH), Bassem Trifi has stated, "The presidential election will be neither democratic nor transparent." The electoral board, ISIE, has excluded independent organizations such as I Watch and Mourakiboun from observing the vote, alleging they received suspicious foreign funding.
Romdhane Ben Amor, spokesman for the NGO Forum Tunisien des Droits Économiques et Sociaux (FTDES), criticised the current climate, saying, "We live in a total rejection of any outside body with autonomy to observe this election." He told AFP that the Constitutional Electoral Commission has become a tool to reinforce the president's unilateral vision, sidelining numerous independent civil organizations known for their integrity and professionalism.
A member of I Watch, Souheib Ferchichi, also noted that the electoral authority's refusal to allow independent observers raises doubts about the integrity and transparency of the elections. "We have been excluded from election monitoring without any guarantee of the electoral process's integrity," she stated.
Only two candidates have been approved to challenge the incumbent in Sunday's election - left-wing nationalist Zouhair Magzhaoui, who is perceived as a token candidate aligned with President Saied, and Ayachi Zammel, the imprisoned leader of the liberal Azimoun party.
