Tunisian authorities have detained presidential candidate and former deputy Ayachi Zammel on allegations of falsifying endorsements.
The prosecutor’s office in Manouba ordered Zammel’s pre-trial detention for 48 hours following an interrogation, as reported by Reuters.
The Tunisian judiciary announced on Monday that Zammel, a businessman, was retained under suspicion of “fabricating endorsements,” according to Tunisian media outlets.
Additionally, one member of his campaign team has also been detained in connection with the investigation.
This legal action underscores the ongoing scrutiny and challenges within Tunisia’s political landscape as the country approaches its presidential elections.
On 30 August, the Tunisian Administrative Court confirmed Imed Daïmi’s eligibility to participate in the presidential elections slated for October 6, thus increasing the number of candidates to six.
According to a report by TAP, the court has resolved all six appeals concerning candidate applications by the deadline of August 30, 2024, rendering these decisions final and irrevocable.
The court approved three appeals based on both procedural and substantial legal grounds, effectively reversing earlier exclusions made by the electoral commission.
However, it dismissed two other appeals due to procedural flaws, and in another instance, upheld the appeal procedurally but rejected it substantively.
The finalized roster for the election now includes Zouheir Maghzaoui, Kais Saied, Ayachi Zammal, Mondher Zenaidi, Abdellatif Mekki, and Imed Daïmi.
The court has confirmed the reinstatement of notable candidate Mondher Znaidi into the presidential contest scheduled for October 6, marking this as the second reinstatement this week and intensifying the competition faced by President Kais Saied.
Earlier, the court also reversed the disqualification of Abdellatif Mekki, which had been imposed by the electoral commission. Judicial official Faycel Bouguera stated that the decision made on Thursday is conclusive and cannot be appealed.
