Tunisia’s current president, Kais Saied, has officially declared his candidacy for a second term in office, announcing his intentions during a speech commemorating the 24th anniversary of the passing of Tunisian statesman Habib Bourguiba. Saied confirmed that he will adhere to legal procedures in submitting his candidacy within the stipulated timeframe.
In his address, Saied took aim at political factions that opted to boycott legislative elections while now rushing to participate in the upcoming presidential race. Without naming specific parties, he criticized those who he alleged were seeking foreign backing, sarcastically remarking that such external support doesn’t qualify them for candidacy in Tunisia’s presidential elections.
He emphasized the weight of responsibility that comes with holding power, contrasting it with mere ambition for positions of authority. Since seizing power in an authoritarian move in 2021, Saied has faced widespread condemnation for his crackdown on dissent, including the arrest of opposition figures, journalists, and activists.
Chaima Issa, a vocal critic of Saied’s administration, who herself was detained and charged with “insulting the president” in December of the previous year, has accused the president of steering Tunisia towards tyranny.
Critics of Saied often find themselves labeled as agents of external forces and accused of attempting to undermine Tunisia through immigration from Africa. Saied has aligned himself with the controversial Great Replacement Theory, alleging that migration is part of a conspiracy by shadowy elites to replace native populations.
In reaffirming his candidacy for the presidency, Saied reiterated his commitment to rooting out corruption from the country, asserting that there would be no retreat from his mission to purify Tunisia from what he perceives as pervasive corruption.
