Media reports: Tunisian opposition figure enters bid for presidency while in jail

Abir Moussi, a prominent Tunisian opposition figure currently in jail, has officially entered the race for Tunisia’s upcoming presidential election, according to local media reports. Despite the challenges, Moussi’s legal team has reportedly filed all the necessary documents for her candidacy.

Moussi, the head of the Free Destourian Party and a former member of parliament, was arrested in October outside the presidential palace after appealing against one of President Kais Saied’s decrees. Saied, who was elected democratically, has been ruling by decree since 2021.

Other critics of Saied, who have been imprisoned over the past year, have faced significant difficulties meeting the requirements to run, including obtaining signatures from 10,000 registered voters. These stringent requirements have been viewed as a means to suppress potential challengers.

In the lead-up to the October 6th presidential election, Saied has been accused of arbitrarily imprisoning critics and raising election candidacy requirements to an unattainable level, effectively stifling competition. Moussi's entry into the race underscores the tense political climate in Tunisia, marked by increasing opposition to Saied's administration and its handling of democratic processes.