TUNIS: Tunisia’s first presidential hopeful, an unknown 59-year-old laborer, submitted his official candidacy on Monday, kicking off the race for a presidential election set to take place on October 6.
Fethi Krimi submitted his application at the ISIE electoral authority in the capital Tunis, according to local reports and photos posted on social media.
Other would-be candidates have also announced their intention to run for office, including famous rapper K2 Rhym, retired military official Kamel Akrout and Mondher Zenaidi, a former minister under ousted president Zine El Abidine Ben Ali.
President Kais Saied, who was elected in 2019 but orchestrated a sweeping power grab in 2021, said he would seek another term in office.
Critics and NGOs have deplored a “rollback” of freedoms and rights in Tunisia, the birthplace of the Arab Spring uprisings.
Key political figures critical of Saied have been imprisoned while the country readies for what critics say is an election lacking opposition.
Over a hundred applicants have already obtained the initial candidacy application form amid a series of restraints on eligibility.
Experts say it has become difficult to run for office, as a number of the conditions and requirements have changed under Saied.
To qualify to appear on the ballot, candidates are required to present a list of signatures from 10,000 registered voters with at least 500 voter signatures per constituency.
Further, candidates must be 40 or older, hold Tunisian citizenship without dual nationality, be Muslim and have Tunisian parents and grandparents.
