Tunisia’s President Kais Saied Secures Second Term with Landslide Victory

Tunisia’s President Kais Saied has secured a second term in office, winning 90.7% of the vote in Sunday’s presidential election, according to preliminary results announced by the country’s Independent High Authority for Elections (ISIE). However, the election was marked by a low voter turnout of 28.8%, the lowest since Tunisia’s 2011 revolution, and criticism from rights groups over Saied’s governance style.

A Controversial Election

The election featured only two challengers: businessman Ayachi Zammel, who received 7% of the vote, and Zouhair Maghzaoui, leader of the Chaab Party, who garnered nearly 2%. Zammel’s candidacy was marred by controversy after he was sentenced to 12 years in prison for falsifying documents just days before the election.

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The election was held in a tense political atmosphere, with no campaign rallies or public debates, and most campaign posters endorsing President Saied. Major political parties boycotted the election, arguing that it was neither free nor fair.

Tunisia’s Eroding Democratic Gains

Tunisia was once considered a beacon of democracy in the Arab world following the 2011 “Arab Spring” uprising, which ousted long-time autocrat Zine El Abidine Ben Ali. However, since taking office in 2019, Saied has concentrated power in his hands, dissolving the elected parliament in 2021 and rewriting the constitution in a move that his opponents labelled a coup.

The president’s tenure has also been marked by a crackdown on political opposition and dissent, with many prominent opposition figures, including senior party leaders, imprisoned. Rights groups, such as Amnesty International, have expressed concern over a “worrying decline in fundamental rights” under Saied’s leadership, accusing him of reversing the democratic progress made since 2011.

Saied’s Vision: Fighting Corruption or Consolidating Power?

In response to criticism, Saied has defended his actions, insisting that his measures are necessary to fight a “corrupt elite” and “traitors.” Following his electoral victory, he described the outcome as a “continuation of the revolution” and pledged to “cleanse the country of the corrupt, traitors, and conspirators.”

The Road Ahead

The election was Tunisia’s third presidential poll since the revolution, but the low turnout reflects growing public disillusionment. Many Tunisians have become increasingly discontented with the political situation, fearing a return to authoritarianism. The final results are expected to be announced next month, but the atmosphere of political suppression and legal challenges facing opposition figures suggest that Tunisia’s democratic trajectory remains uncertain.

The election outcome underscores a polarised political landscape in Tunisia, with President Saied’s critics warning of an emerging autocracy and his supporters applauding his anti-corruption efforts.