Tunisian media reported that the Misdemeanor Court at the Primary Court has sentenced five potential presidential candidates to eight months in prison and banned them from running for office for life.
According to “Al-Hurriya” newspaper, the summer misdemeanour section of the Tunis Primary Court found Abdel Latif Al-Makki, Nizar Al-Shaari, and Mohamed Adel Al-Dou guilty, barring them from future candidacy.
The court also imposed the same prison term with immediate effect on potential candidates Morad Al-Massoudi and Leila Al-Hamami, who are currently fugitives.
Tunisia’s National News Agency reported that the court has decided to review the case related to suspicions of forging endorsements for the 2024 presidential elections following defense requests for further examination and to prepare their defense arguments.
Mukhtar Al-Jamaai, a member of the defense team, stated that the delay was to review the files and prepare a robust defense, emphasizing the release of detained suspects while keeping potential candidate Nizar Al-Shaari on bail.
He highlighted that the public prosecution had recently begun investigations into the alleged endorsement forgery, with three charges directed at several candidates and their campaign members related to offering bribes, forging certificates, and using those certificates inappropriately.
On another note, Tunisian President Kais Saied has officially submitted his candidacy for the upcoming presidential elections to the Independent High Authority for Elections, making him the fifth candidate to do so.
Local media quoted Saied saying that this marks the beginning of a “liberation war,” aiming to establish a new republic where citizens enjoy full rights to freedom, justice, and national dignity.
Furthermore, during a meeting of the National Security Council, President Saied emphasized the need for strict law enforcement against those attempting to disrupt state operations or compromise public security.
He accused anti-revolutionary forces and their agents of escalating tensions by any means necessary, perceiving these elections as a threat to their existence.
Farouk Bouasker, head of the election authority, revealed on August 4 that some presidential candidates were caught red-handed buying endorsements.
Some were found possessing numerous copies of national identification cards, while others were distributing cash and sometimes in-kind gifts to collect endorsements. Bouasker confirmed that the security units and judiciary acted following reports from citizens.
President Saied has set October 6, 2024, as the date for the presidential elections, signalling a crucial phase in Tunisia’s political landscape.
