Electoral body says about 9.7 million people are eligible to vote, but the key presidential contender is behind bars.
Voting is underway in Tunisia’s presidential election, but incumbent Kais Saied appears set to win with little real opposition. The election, seen as a final chapter in Tunisia’s experiment with democracy, follows Saied’s power grab three years ago.
Polling stations opened at 8am and will close at 6pm, with preliminary results expected by Wednesday. Approximately 9.7 million voters are eligible, but many are disheartened by the certainty of Saied’s victory, the ban on opposition candidates, and the country’s economic decline.
In the absence of campaign rallies or debates, the streets are filled with posters of Saied. With little faith in change amidst economic crisis, many voters feel resigned.
Tunisia, once a beacon of the Arab Spring, has seen hopes of democracy fade as Saied seized power in 2021 and cracked down on dissent. Human Rights Watch reports over 170 detainees for political reasons.
Amid concerns of increasing authoritarianism and economic hardship, protests against Saied have erupted in the capital Tunis. The future of Tunisia hangs in the balance as the election results loom.