Presidential polls in Tunisia expected in autumn 2024

Tunisians will head to polls in autumn next year to elect a new President or re-elect incumbent leader Kais Saied in power since 2019, the country’s independent electoral commission, ISIE, indicated Wednesday August 9.

Mohamed Tlili Mansri, spokesperson for the Commission, told local media “Mosaïque FM” that per the 2014 election law that has not been modified, the elections are expected to take place in autumn 2024.

Mansri, however, indicated that the Constitution adopted last year introduced two new conditions to be candidate for the presidential elections.

“Candidacy for the office of President of the Republic is the right of any Tunisian who does not hold another nationality, and who was born of a Tunisian father and mother, or paternal and maternal grandfathers, all of whom have held Tunisian nationality without interruption. Candidates must be at least forty years of age on the day they submit their bids, and enjoy full civil and political rights,” article 89 of the Constitution says.

Saied has not made any announcement regarding his potential candidacy to seek another term in office, but he seems unopposed as arch rivals including Rached Ghannouchi leader of Islamist party Ennahdha, the country’s leading opposition movement, are languishing in prison.

Saied came to power in 2019 as independent candidate, following snap presidential polls in the wake of death of former leader Caid Essebsi.