TUNIS, Tunisia (AP) — Tunisian President Kais Saied filed the necessary paperwork Monday to run in this year’s election. He is expected to face little competition as prominent opposition members and other potential challengers have been imprisoned during his first term.
Saied, who last month announced plans to run again, submitted 242,224 signatures from registered voters to qualify for inclusion on the Oct. 6 ballot in the North African nation.
Four other candidates have gathered signatures to run including Abir Moussi, a right-wing critic of the president who has been behind bars since she staged a protest outside his residence last year. Her attorneys said they filed her paperwork on Sunday.
Tunisia will publish a complete list of candidates by August 10. The country’s Independent High Authority for Elections requires candidates gather 10,000 signatures to appear on the ballot.
Political participation has waned in Tunisia since the country’s longtime dictator Zine El Abidine Ben Ali was overthrown in 2011. Last year’s local elections saw a turnout of 11%.
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