The Tunisian Public Prosecution Office at the Financial Judiciary has initiated a judicial investigation into allegations of money laundering involving over 20 Tunisian individuals, including former ministers, businessmen, political activists, and media figures.
The investigation has raised concerns among party leaders and human rights organizations monitoring Tunisia’s political landscape, particularly as some of the accused figures had previously declared their intentions to run in the upcoming presidential elections later this year, in accordance with the Tunisian Constitution.
The investigating judge, in compliance with a decision from the Public Prosecution, has committed to conducting thorough research into the suspicions of money laundering against the accused individuals.
Among those on the list are prominent political figures such as Olfa Al-Hamidi, head of the “Third Republic” party, Nizar Al-Shaari, founder of the “New Carthage Movement,” and Fadel Abdel Kafi, former head of the “Tunisia Horizons” party. Also included is Al-Mundhir Al-Zanaidi, the former Minister of Tourism during the era of ex-President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, who has been proposed as a consensus candidate for the presidency with the support of various political movements.
Several of the accused individuals had previously criticized President Kais Saied’s political orientation, with some considered as preferred candidates for the youth groups in Tunisia, including Olfa Al-Hamidi and Nizar Al-Shaari.
While President Saied has not explicitly declared his intention to seek a second presidential term, some parties supporting his political path have urged him to continue implementing his policies.
