Tunisia’s Political Climate Simmers as Citizens Rally Against Rising Authoritarianism and Economic Despair
Just one day after a powerful display of dissent rocked the streets of Tunis, the official presidential campaign season kicked off on Saturday, setting the stage for a contentious electoral battle. The protests, which were possibly the largest since President Kais Saied began a sweeping crackdown earlier this year, were a resounding call for change in a country increasingly besieged by economic hardships and political repression.
On Friday, thousands of Tunisians took to the streets in a dramatic show of defiance against what they describe as a burgeoning police state under Saied’s rule. Carrying signs that read, “Where is sugar? Where is oil? Where is freedom? Where is democracy?” the protesters voiced their frustration over skyrocketing costs of living and the erosion of civil liberties. As they marched towards the Interior Ministry, the discontent was palpable, echoing the revolutionary spirit of 2011 that toppled longtime dictator Zine El Abidine Ben Ali.
Khaled Ben Abdeslam, an urban development consultant and one of the protesters, encapsulated the mood of the demonstration. “Nobody dares to say or do anything anymore,” he lamented, reflecting widespread fears about the increasing authoritarian grip of Saied’s regime. His concerns are not unfounded. Since Saied’s rise to power in 2019, Tunisia has seen a troubling consolidation of executive authority. The president has effectively frozen the parliament, rewritten the constitution, and cracked down on dissent, leading to mass arrests of journalists, activists, and political opponents.
The timing of these protests is particularly critical as Saied prepares to seek reelection on October 6. His first term, marked by promises of anti-corruption and reform, has instead been marred by rising unemployment, particularly among youth, and a deepening economic crisis. Despite these issues, Saied has skillfully leveraged populist rhetoric to maintain support, including controversial statements targeting migrants from sub-Saharan Africa and attempts to alter Tunisia’s demographic landscape.
The political crackdown has intensified as Saied’s opponents face increasing obstacles. Candidates who might challenge him have been arrested or disqualified, and those who have managed to secure candidacy have faced legal and political challenges. Ayachi Zammel, a prominent businessman and one of the few candidates approved to run against Saied, was arrested almost immediately after his candidacy was announced. His attorney fears that Zammel might be barred from politics entirely, following a troubling pattern of disqualifications.
Friday’s protest, organized by the Tunisian Network for the Defense of Rights and Freedoms, highlighted the public’s growing alarm over the erosion of democratic norms. Many in the network are disillusioned by the election authority’s refusal to reinstate candidates who had been unjustly excluded, defying court orders and deepening the sense of injustice.
Hajer Mohamed, a 33-year-old law firm assistant, expressed a sentiment shared by many: a disillusionment that starkly contrasts with the euphoria of the 2011 revolution. “We never thought that after the 2011 revolution we’d live to see the country’s suffocating situation,” she said. “Even under former dictator Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, the situation wasn’t as scandalous as it is today.”
As Tunisia’s presidential campaign officially begins, the nation stands at a crossroads. The massive protests and Saied’s increasingly autocratic measures signal a deepening crisis, with the future of Tunisia’s democracy hanging precariously in the balance. Will the upcoming elections offer a glimmer of hope, or will they merely cement the current regime’s grip on power? The answers will come as Tunisians head to the polls, but for now, the country remains a cauldron of political tension and economic struggle.
