Tunisia’s Saied re-elected amidst criticism of crackdown on opposition

The electoral commission announced the results on national television Monday, confirming Saied's sweeping victory.

Despite the landslide win, voter turnout was recorded at 28.8%, the lowest since Tunisia’s 2011 revolution that ended decades of authoritarian rule and was seen as a key achievement of the Arab Spring uprisings. The ISIE had initially predicted turnout would be around 30%, but the final numbers fell short.

Saied, 66, faced two opponents in the election: Zouhair Maghzaoui, leader of the Chaab Party and a former ally turned critic, and businessman Ayachi Zammel, who was considered a significant contender until his arrest last month. Zammel was sentenced to 12 years in prison on Tuesday for election-related offences, further clouding the election.

In power since 2019, Saied has faced growing criticism for cracking down on political opposition and dismantling democratic institutions. Since 2021, he has dissolved the elected parliament, rewritten the constitution, and overseen a wave of arrests targeting opposition leaders and critics. Many prominent political figures, including Abir Moussi, leader of the Free Constitutional Party, remain imprisoned. Rights groups argue that Saied has reversed many of Tunisia’s democratic gains.

The election was marked by the absence of support from major political parties, many of which oppose Saied. None of the three candidates on the ballot received endorsements from the biggest parties, and some opposition figures were barred from running altogether.

Saied has rejected allegations of authoritarianism, insisting that his actions are necessary to root out corruption and defend the country against "traitors" and "conspirators." In his first public remarks after exit polls indicated his victory, Saied declared that his re-election represents a continuation of the revolution.

"We will build and cleanse the country of the corrupt, traitors, and conspirators," Saied said during an interview on state television.

While Saied's supporters view him as a defender of the nation’s integrity, critics see his actions as a dangerous rollback of Tunisia’s hard-won freedoms. The country, once hailed as the Arab Spring's only success story for transitioning into a democracy, now faces growing concerns about the future of its political landscape under Saied's rule. (ILKHA)