Tunisian legal scholars issued a stern warning on Thursday regarding next month’s presidential election.
They expressed concerns that the election’s legitimacy could be compromised if the electoral commission disregards recent court rulings.
The warning was made by a group of academics in Tunisia, amid rising allegations against President Kais Saied.
Rights groups have accused Saied of undermining the democratic reforms established after the Arab Spring.
Last week, Tunisia’s highest administrative court intervened to reinstate three disqualified candidates.
Mondher Znaidi, Abdellatif Mekki, and Imed Daimi were reinstated for the October 6 vote after their candidacies had been initially rejected.
However, the election commission defied the court’s decision this week.
It approved only Saied’s candidacy and those of Zouhair Magzhaoui and Ayachi Zammel.
This decision has been met with widespread criticism from all political factions, activists, and rights organizations.
Znaidi, Daimi, and Mekki have vowed to continue their legal fight, alleging that the commission’s actions are a deliberate attempt to favor Saied.
A statement from approximately 90 law professors urged the commission to adhere to the court’s ruling.
They emphasized that failing to do so threatens the credibility and integrity of the electoral process.
