Controversial Tunisia Election Amidst Repression

The presidential election in Tunisia, scheduled for Sunday, is widely criticized as neither free nor fair, with President Kais Saied almost guaranteed to secure another term. Saied's main opponents are either imprisoned or barred from participating, and he has consolidated power by dismantling democratic institutions and rewriting the constitution. Many Tunisians, disillusioned with the state of democracy, plan to boycott the election, and protests have erupted in the capital, denouncing the repression and lack of legitimacy of the election. Observers note that while Tunisia was once seen as the Arab Spring's success story, it has since moved towards autocracy under Saied's rule. The election will test Saied's popularity amid economic struggles and a crackdown on dissent. Human rights organizations and opposition parties have voiced concerns over the erosion of freedoms and the political direction of the country.