Two days prior to the presidential election, Tunisians demonstrate against President Saied

Two days before what they claim is an unfair presidential vote in which Saied has eliminated the majority of other candidates to retain his position of power, hundreds of Tunisians marched through the capital on Friday, intensifying their demonstrations against President Kais Saied.

Holding signs that read “Freedoms, not a lifelong presidency” and “Farce elections,” the demonstrators marched to Tunis’s main avenue, Habib Bourguiba Avenue, which served as a focal point for the 2011 uprising that overthrew previous President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali.

Political unrest has escalated in the nation in North Africa as a result of three other well-known candidates being disqualified by an electoral commission headed by Saied and the parliament removing an independent court’s jurisdiction to settle election-related disputes.

Ayachi Zammel, a presidential candidate, received three sentences totaling fourteen years in prison, which infuriated the opposition.

Since his arrest one month ago on suspicion of falsifying election paperwork, he has been incarcerated.

There are currently just two opponents for Saied: Zouhair Maghzaoui, a former ally who is now a critic, and Zammel.

“The people want the fall of the regime” and “Dictator Saied… your turn has come” were among the anti-Said slogans screamed by protesters.

“Elections like this are unfamiliar to Tunisians. They freely voiced their opinions in 2011, 2014, and 2019, but this election denies them the ability to determine their own fate, according to opposition leader Zied Ghanney.