The campaign for the presidential election in Tunisia officially began on Saturday, September 14. Each of the three candidates began their campaign in their own way. The beginnings took place in a heavy atmosphere for Ayachi Zammel, Zouhair Maghzaoui and Kaïs Saïed, the outgoing president. Thus, the first finds himself in a shaky situation: aspiring to the presidency, Ayachi Zammel is nevertheless placed in detention for alleged false sponsorships.
2 min
With our correspondent in Tunis, Amira Souilem
Ayachi Zammel is absent from the launch of his own election campaign. Placed in detention for alleged false sponsorships, this liberal-inspired industrialist is clearly not going to be able to present his program to Tunisians himself.
Prepared for this eventuality, his team recorded a series of videos with him. The first was posted online on Saturday evening, September 14. In the center of Tunis, his comrades denounced, on Monday, September 16, judicial maneuvers aimed, according to them, at silencing the candidate.
” We hope that the prisoner Ayachi Zammel will be released as soon as possible. Candidate Ayachi Zammel wants elections to be held peacefully. Tunisians have no other choice than the peaceful path and elections. ” said Ramzi Jebabli, Ayachi Zammel’s campaign manager.
Zouhair Maghzaoui communicates on social and economic issues
During this time, Zouhair Maghzaouian Arab nationalist candidate who has long supported outgoing President Kais Saied, was traveling in the deprived region of Kef. Also very active on social media, his team posted videos of him in contact with citizens. He who has long supported Kais Saied, is now tackling him.
” You don’t sit on your chair for three years or more and say: “There is corruption, lobbies, etc.” A year, six months of saying that, it’s okay, but after years, it no longer makes sense. “, declared Zouhair Maghzaoui. The candidate focuses his communication on social and economic issues, while the Tunisia is going through a difficult time.
Kaïs Saïed continues with his usual terms
And the third candidate is none other than Kais Saied. He has issued a manifesto that several observers consider divisive, even violent. While he repeats his determination to continue on the path he has traced for Tunisia, he also resorts to the now customary terminology: ” corrupted “, ” criminals “, ” betrayals “, so many terms which, for the Tunisian president, serve to vilify his political adversaries.
While a demonstration denouncing the authoritarianism of his regime was held on Friday, September 13 – bringing together, according to estimates, between 1,000 and 3,500 people – Kaïs Saïed sought to minimize this event, which he said was attended by only a few dozen participants.
Three other candidates had been authorized to compete by the Administrative Court, but the body responsible for organizing the election decided to ignore this legal provision.
Also readIn Tunisia, the first days of the presidential election campaign