EU urges Tunisia to respect democratic values

The EU expressed concern Thursday over the arrest of Tunisian presidential candidate Ayachi Zammel and the exclusion of three other candidates, saying these actions violate "democratic values"according to AFP. Zammel was arrested amid allegations of forging ballot signatures, just as Tunisia's electoral authority finalized the list of candidates for the October 6 election. President Kais Saied and former parliamentarian Zouhair Maghzaoui remain on the list, but three other hopefuls were excluded despite winning appeals against their initial disqualification.

The EU says it is closely monitoring the situation, amid concerns about Tunisia’s shrinking democratic space. "The rule of law, separation of powers, and electoral rights are essential democratic values," an EU spokesperson said. The EU also criticized the electoral authority's decisions, noting they restrict voters' choices and undermine fair competition. President Saied is seeking a second term. He was democratically elected in 2019, but has ruled by decree since his controversial power grab in 2021.