Tunisia: Court validates candidacy of Mondher Zenaidi, fifth candidate

In Tunisia, the drama is escalating as the October 6 presidential election approaches. The ISIE, the organization responsible for overseeing the election, had initially approved only three candidates, including incumbent Kaïs Saïed.

However, on August 29, 2024, the administrative court overruled this decision, allowing Mondher Zenaidi, who had filed an appeal, to run. This decision mirrored a previous ruling from Tuesday August 27, which permitted Abdellatif Mekki, a former Ennahdha member, to enter the race as well.

The election campaign, set to officially start on September 14, is already full of unexpected developments. Critics and human rights organizations have frequently accused the Tunisian judiciary of being under the influence of the ruling powers. Yet, the court surprised many by granting Abdellatif Mekki, and Mondher Zenaidi the right to run, challenging the ISIE’s earlier disqualification of 14 out of 17 candidates.

Mondher Zenaidi, an exiled former minister living in France and a veteran of the Ben Ali era, is using video messages to advocate for national unity and reconciliation. At 73, his calls for calm stand in stark contrast to Kaïs Saïed’s rhetoric, which often highlights purported internal and external threats to Tunisia.

As Zenaidi waits from Paris to launch his campaign, the ISIE is expected to release the final list of presidential candidates next week. The key question now is whether the ISIE will adhere to the court’s rulings or choose to ignore them.