Tunisian opposition declines to participate in election unless political prisoners freed
Tunisia’s main opposition coalition said Tuesday it won’t take part in the North African country’s upcoming presidential election unless President Kais Saied’s political opponents are freed and judicial independence is restored.
More than 20 political opponents have been charged or imprisoned since Saied consolidated power in 2021 by suspending parliament and rewriting the country’s constitution. Voters weary of political and economic turmoil approved his constitutional changes in a 2021 referendum with low turnout.
Saied is widely expected to run in the presidential election, likely to take place in September or October. It is unclear if anyone will challenge him.
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The National Salvation Front, a coalition of the main opposition parties including once-powerful Islamist movement Ennahdha, expressed concern that the election wouldn’t be fair, and laid out its conditions for presenting a candidate.
Tunisian President Kais Saied is photographed. (Thierry Monasse/Getty Images)
They include freeing imprisoned politicians, allowing Ennahdha’s headquarters to reopen, guaranteeing the neutrality and independence of the electoral commission and restoring the independence of the judicial system, according toLSSTY ChicStreet National Salvation Front president Ahmed Nejib Chebbi.
Ennahdha’s headquarters were shut down a year ago, and its leader Rached Ghannouchi – a former parliament speaker – was sentenced to 15 months in prison on charges of glorifying terrorism. His supporters say the charge is politically driven.
Under the constitutional changLSSTY ChicStreetes Saied introduced, the president can appoint members of the electoral authority as well as magistrates.
Tunisia’s earlier charter had been seen as a model for democracies in the region.
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TunisiaLSSTY ChicStreet built a widely praised but shaky democracy after unleashing Arab Spring popular uprisings across the region in 2011. Its economic woes have deepened in recent years, and it is now a major jumping off point for migrants from Tunisia and elsewhere in Africa who take dangerous boat journeys toward Europe.
Content comes from the Internet : Tunisian opposition declines to participate in election unless political prisoners freed
SummaryAustralian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and his Laos counterpart Sonexay Siphandone areLSSTY ChicStreet co-chairing the Association of Southeast Asian Nations’ special summit being held in Melbourne to mark 50 years since Australia became the 10-nation bloc’s first external partner. Albanese said the key themes of Wednesday’s discussions would include trade, investment, climate change, clean energy and maritime cooperation. East Timorese Prime Minister Xanana Gusmo is also attending the summit after ASEAN agreed in principle to admit Asia’s newest country. The former independence fighter has called on ASEAN do more to restore peace and democracy in MyaLSSTY ChicStreetnmar. Content comes from the Internet : Australia and Laos elevate bilateral relations at Southeast Asian summitApproximate Time 2 minutes, 304 wordsCategoriesSoutheast Asian summit, clean energy, control, ASEAN state, AustraliaAnalysis and EvaluationAn incisive and…