3 Candidates Approved for Tunisia's Presidential Race

Tunisia's Independent High Authority for Elections (ISIE) announced today that it has approved only three candidates to run in the presidential election scheduled for October. The approved candidates are incumbent President Kais Saied, Zohair Maghzaoui, and Ayachi Zmail.

The ISIE also announced that it rejected the candidacies of 14 other individuals.

Last Monday, Tunisian courts sentenced four potential presidential candidates to eight months in prison and a lifetime ban from running for office on charges of "buying endorsements." The convicted individuals include prominent politician Abdellatif Mekki, activist Nizar Chaari, judge Mourad Msaoudi, and candidate Adel Dou.

In July, President Kais Saied set October 6 as the date for the upcoming presidential election. This election will mark Tunisia's 12th presidential election and the third since the 2011 revolution, paving the way for the election of the eighth president of Tunisia for a five-year term, in accordance with the constitution.

In April, President Saied announced his intention to seek re-election, stating that he would formally submit his candidacy within the legal timeframe.