Tunisian police have arrested opposition figure Lotfi Mraïhi, who announced his intention to run in the presidential elections scheduled for October, on suspicion of money laundering. Politicians and local media reported that the police detained Mraïhi, leader of the People's Republican Union party and one of the most prominent critics of President Kais Saied, late Wednesday night.
The spokesperson for the Tunis District Court stated earlier this week that Mraïhi is facing allegations of money laundering and opening bank accounts abroad without permission from the central bank. His arrest comes at a time when opposition parties accuse Saied's government of exerting pressure on the judiciary to eliminate the president's competitors in the 2024 elections and pave the way for his re-election.
Saied was elected president of Tunisia in 2019 and has yet to officially announce his candidacy for the upcoming elections on October 6. However, it is widely expected that he will seek a second term. He stated last year that he would not hand over power to those he described as unpatriotic.
Abir Moussi, the leader of the Free Constitutional Party and a prominent candidate according to polls, has been in prison since last year on suspicion of harming public security. Moussi's party claims that she was imprisoned in an attempt to exclude her from the electoral race, considering her a very strong candidate.
Other candidates, including Safi Said, Nizar al-Chaari, and Abdel Latif Mekki, are facing legal actions on allegations such as forgery and money laundering. On the other hand, Monther Zenaidi, who announced on Thursday his intention to run, is under legal scrutiny for suspected involvement in financial corruption.
The opposition argues that free and credible elections cannot take place unless imprisoned politicians are released and the media is allowed to operate freely without government pressure.
