Sat Sep 21 11:42:00 UTC 2024: ## Tunisian Youth Take to the Streets as Crackdown Fuels Election Fears
**Tunis, Tunisia** – Young Tunisians are taking to the streets in growing numbers, protesting the increasingly authoritarian rule of President Kais Saied ahead of the country’s upcoming presidential election on October 6. The protests, fueled by concerns over the crackdown on political opposition, come amidst a worsening economic climate.
The recent demonstrations, organized by a newly formed coalition called “The Tunisian Network for the Defense of Rights and Freedoms,” have been the largest in years, with thousands of young people demanding an end to what they see as Saied’s authoritarianism. They are particularly critical of Saied’s actions since July 2021, when he began consolidating power by dismantling democratic bodies and imprisoning journalists, lawyers, and political opponents.
The current situation is starkly different from the promises Saied made during his first election victory in 2019, when he gained 72% of the vote, promising to tackle corruption, reform the country, and provide a better future for young people. However, many of the young people who voted for him then are now deeply disillusioned, citing the president’s crackdown and the deteriorating economic situation.
The situation has become so dire that many young Tunisians are considering leaving the country. The latest survey by Arab Barometer, a research network focusing on public opinion in the Middle East and North Africa, reveals that 46% of Tunisians are thinking about leaving, citing economic difficulties and a lack of faith in the government’s ability to combat corruption.
Despite these challenges, the opposition remains hopeful that the upcoming election will be a turning point. While only two candidates, besides Saied, were initially allowed to compete, one of these candidates, Ayachi Zammel, was recently sentenced to 20 months in prison on charges deemed baseless by his lawyer. Despite this, Zammel plans to continue his campaign.
Meanwhile, the largest opposition party, Ennahda, has condemned the arrests of more than 90 of its members, calling it an “unprecedented campaign of raids and violations.”
The Tunisian Network for the Defense of Rights and Freedoms has announced another demonstration on September 22, with the possibility of further legal challenges to the upcoming election. It remains to be seen whether the protests will gather enough momentum to influence the election’s outcome, but they underscore the deep concerns among Tunisians regarding the country’s trajectory.
First Piper 