Tunis, Tunisia – In a highly controversial election, President Kais Saied has won a second term in office, garnering an overwhelming 90.7% of the vote. The election result, announced by Tunisia’s Independent High Authority for Elections on Monday evening, comes after a campaign marred by the jailing of Saied’s political rivals, journalists, activists, and even attorneys.
While Saied’s supporters celebrated his decisive victory, the election also highlighted deep divisions in the country. A significant portion of Tunisia’s population chose to boycott the election, reflecting widespread dissatisfaction with the government’s repression of dissent. In contrast, those loyal to Saied turned out in large numbers, reinforcing the president’s grip on power.
Opposition Silenced and Boycotts
Saied’s closest challenger, businessman Ayachi Zammel, won a mere 7.4% of the vote. His poor showing can be attributed not only to Saied’s popularity but also to the fact that Zammel spent most of the campaign season behind bars, facing multiple prison sentences for alleged election-related crimes. His imprisonment, like that of many other opposition figures, raised serious concerns about the fairness of the election process.
Critics argue that the elections were far from free and fair. The political landscape in Tunisia has been skewed in Saied’s favor since he began a systematic crackdown on dissent following his rise to power. Many of the country’s democratic voices, once allowed to flourish after the Arab Spring, have been silenced through arrests, intimidation, and legal persecution.
Tunisia’s Fragile Democracy
This recent election marks Tunisia’s third since the Arab Spring protests of 2011, a movement that was driven by demands for “bread, freedom, and dignity,” and led to the ouster of longtime autocrat Zine El Abidine Ben Ali. For years, Tunisia was seen as a beacon of hope for democracy in the Arab world, enshrining a new constitution and establishing a multiparty system after the revolution.
However, that hope began to fade after Saied’s rise to power. Two years into his presidency, Saied declared a state of emergency in July 2021, suspended parliament, and rewrote the constitution to grant himself more extensive executive powers. These moves were widely seen as an effort to consolidate authority and have led to a dismantling of Tunisia’s democratic institutions.
A Nation at a Crossroads
While Saied’s victory solidifies his rule, Tunisia faces an uncertain future. The country is grappling with economic difficulties, high unemployment, and growing discontent among its population. Saied’s tightening grip on power, coupled with his crackdown on opposition voices, raises concerns about whether Tunisia will be able to preserve the democratic gains it fought so hard to achieve.
With many opposition figures either in prison or facing ongoing legal battles, it remains to be seen whether Tunisia’s fledgling democracy can survive. Saied’s supporters argue that his firm hand is necessary to bring stability and reform, but others worry that the country is sliding back into authoritarianism.
As Tunisia enters this next chapter under Saied’s leadership, the country finds itself at a critical juncture. Will the new constitution and Saied’s concentrated power lead to the stability he promises, or will Tunisia’s hard-won freedoms continue to erode? Only time will tell.
