Tunisia: Saied says he will seek new term as political rival is sentenced to jail

Tunisian President Kais Saied said Friday he will seek a second term in elections set for October, AFP reports. The announcement came the same day as a potential presidential candidate was sentenced to eight months in prison and given a lifetime ban from running for office, according to local media cited by AFP. Lotfi Mraihi, head of the left-wing opposition Republican People's Union, was arrested July 3 for suspected corruption. He had announced his candidacy in April.

Saied, elected in 2019, seized far reaching powers in 2021 and has ruled by decree since then. Many of his opponents, including Abir Moussi, head of the Free Destourian Party, and Issam Chebbi from the National Salvation Front, are either imprisoned or facing prosecution.

This week Amnesty International condemned the escalating crackdown on political opposition following the arrest of Ennahdha leader Ajmi Ouirimi. Ennahadha had been the largest   party in the legislature before it was dissolved by Saied. Tunisian watchdog I Watch criticized the lack of transparency in the electoral process as Tunisia prepares for general elections, expected in October.