Tunisian presidential candidate Ayachi Zemmal arrested for alleged falsification of sponsorships

The arrest highlights growing tensions in Tunisia’s electoral landscape as several opposition figures face legal challenges ahead of the crucial vote.

Mahdi Abdeljawad, a member of Zemmal’s campaign team, confirmed the arrest in a statement to local radio station Mosaïque FM.

“Early Monday morning, presidential candidate Ayachi Zemmal was arrested and transferred to the National Guard area in Tebourba, in the Manouba governorate,” Abdeljawad said.

He added that Zemmal is facing charges related to the fabrication of sponsorships.

Zemmal is not alone in facing such allegations. Earlier in August, three other presidential candidates were similarly accused of falsifying sponsorships, leading to their imprisonment by the Court of First Instance.

A recent court session on Thursday decided to postpone the review of charges against Zemmal and a financial affairs official from his movement, Azimoun, to September 19.

The Azimoun movement, whose name translates to “The Determined,” has been implicated in falsifying sponsorships, raising further scrutiny on the group.

Strict Rules for Presidential Candidates in Tunisia

Tunisia’s electoral law imposes stringent requirements on candidates wishing to run for the presidency.

Candidates must secure 10 sponsorships from members of the Assembly of the Representatives of the People, an equal number of signatures from members of regional and district councils, 40 sponsorships from local, regional, or municipal council leaders, or 10,000 citizen sponsorships across 10 different electoral constituencies.

Notably, no constituency may provide fewer than 500 sponsors. Additionally, each citizen is allowed to sponsor only one candidate, a rule designed to ensure fairness and prevent manipulation of the process.

While opposition figures accuse President Kais Saied of using the judiciary to sideline political rivals and potential competitors, President Saied maintains that Tunisia’s judiciary operates independently.

This claim, however, remains contentious and is not universally accepted within the political landscape.

Concerns Over the Exclusion of Serious Presidential Contenders

Human Rights Watch has raised concerns about the exclusion of serious contenders from the presidential race.

Bassam Khawaja, Deputy Director of the Middle East and North Africa Division at Human Rights Watch, remarked, “After imprisoning dozens of prominent opponents and activists, the Tunisian authorities have sidelined nearly all serious contenders in the presidential race, reducing the vote to a mere formality.”

These concerns are underscored by the fact that out of 17 candidacies submitted to the electoral commission, only three initially received approval: President Kais Saied, Secretary-General of the Popular Movement Zuhair Maghzawi, and Ayachi Zemmal.

Judicial interventions later reinstated three other candidates into the race.

As Tunisia prepares for the upcoming presidential election, the legal challenges facing Zemmal and other opposition figures have cast a shadow over the electoral process, fueling debates about the state of democracy and judicial independence in the North African nation.