Tunisia parliament moves to remove election court power amid protests

The Tunisian parliament’s controversial last-minute decision to alter the electoral law has sparked widespread protests just a week before the presidential election. The opposition fears that the new decree, supported by the majority of MPs, will further erode democracy in the North African state.

Under the new law, the administrative court’s authority to rule on election appeals will be stripped, transferring that power to civil courts. This move comes after the court opposed decisions made by the President’s appointed Independent High Authority for Elections (ISIE) to disqualify three candidates from the upcoming presidential race.

Opposition parties and local rights groups have condemned the change, viewing it as an attempt to undermine the judicial system and prevent potential appeals after the elections. The decision to alter the law so close to the election has raised concerns about the fairness and integrity of the electoral process.

The ISIE has been at odds with the administrative court in recent months, further fueling tensions in the lead-up to the election. Critics argue that President Kais Saied’s restructuring of the ISIE in 2022 has concentrated power in his hands, allowing him to manipulate the electoral process to secure a second term.

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