Tunisian President Announces Nomination For Second Term Of Office

JAKARTA - Tunisian President Kais Saied, who has been in office since 2019, announced his candidacy for a second term, with Tunisia's next presidential election to take place on October 6, 2024.

"I officially announce my candidacy for the October 6 presidential election to continue the struggle in battle for the sake of national release," Saied said in a video release of his government office reported by ANTARA from Sputnik-OANA, Saturday, July 20.

On July 25, 2021, Saied dismissed the government and suspended parliament amid a mass protest against Tunisian parliament and the Islamic party Ennahda, caused by worsening conditions in people's lives. In March 2022, the president dissolved parliament, arguing he did so "to protect the government and its institutions."

The initial parliamentary elections were held in Tunisia between December 2022 and January 2023. The voter participation rate was only 11 percent and the opposition boycotted the election.

In July 2022, the opposition also boycotted a referendum on constitutional amendments, while 94.6 percent voted to support Tunisia's new draft constitution, with a voter participation rate of only 27 percent. The constitutional amendment in the country has given the country a much larger head of power compared to the 2014 constitution.