Only three candidates will be in the running in Tunisia's October 6 presidential election, the country's electoral authority announced on Monday.
The Independent High Authority for Elections (ISIE) said it rejected rulings by the Administrative Court to reinstate three candidates, leaving only President Kais Saied and two former members of parliament, Zouhair Maghzaoui and Ayachi Zammel, in the race.
Although the Administrative Court upheld appeals by Abdellatif El Mekki, Mondher Znaidi and Imed Daimi against their disqualification, the ISIE had not received the rulings within 48 hours as stipulated in Tunisia’s electoral law, its president, Farouk Bouasker, said at a press conference in Tunis.
But court spokesman Faycel Bouguerra told the local Mosaique radio station that it verbally informed the electoral authority and the candidates' lawyers of its decision as soon as it was issued.
“Article 24 of the Elections Authority law 18, issued in 2014, requires it to comply with the decisions of the general judicial session [of the Administrative Court] both according to a written copy or a verbal statement of the ruling,” he said.
Mr Bouguerra added that this procedure had been in effect between the Administrative Court and the elections authority since 2011.
The electoral authority's decision sets a precedent in Tunisia, as the orders of the Administrative Court have previously been considered binding. The ISIE had rejected the three candidates on the grounds that they did not have enough valid voter signatures as required by the electoral law.
Mr Bouasker accused the opposition presidential hopefuls of using manipulation, falsification and bribery to get voter signatures. One of them was also found to have dual nationality, he alleged.
Tunisia’s electoral law bars candidates who hold dual citizenship, or whose parents or grandparents have held foreign citizenship.
Who are the candidates for Tunisia's 2024 presidential election?
Kais Saied, the incumbent, 66, was elected in 2019 after the death of Beji Caid Essebsi. The constitutional law professor's victory, gaining 72.7 per cent of the vote in a run-off against businessman and media mogul, Nabil Karoui, was a surprise as he was widely considered a political outsider.
In July 2021, Mr Saied consolidated all branches of authority under him after dissolving the parliament, government and high judicial council in a move that he called “exceptional measures”.
He has since ruled the country by decree and introduced a new constitution, which he wrote himself. The document was ratified in a referendum that drew only 27.5 per cent of voters.
Mr Saied is considered a favourite among the general public. This support primarily stems from his July 2021 measures whereby he eliminated a class of politicians who people had grown frustrated with and who they continue to blame for the deterioration of their socio-economic situation.
Ayachi Zammel, 47, an agricultural engineer and investor from the marginalised north-western governorate of Siliana, began his political career after winning a seat in parliament in 2019. He used to be a member of former prime minister Youssef Chahed's Tahya Tounes party.
In 2022, he founded and became president of the Azimoun Movement party.
In a recorded message on his Facebook page, Mr Zammel said he decided to enter the presidential race because he wanted “to participate in changing Tunisia’s reality”, and chose “Turning the page” as his campaign slogan in an attempt “to unite people, stay away from ideological rows and focus on the socio-economic aspect to build a new Tunisia”.
However, Mr Zammel's participation in the election could be in doubt after he and a member of his campaign team were placed in 48-hour pre-trial detention on Monday, over accusations of falsifying voter signatures endorsing his candidacy.
Zouhair Maghzaoui, 59, is the secretary general of pan-Arab nationalist People’s Movement. He succeeded its assassinated leader, Mohamed Brahmi, in 2013.
Mr Maghzaoui, who used to be an MP representing the southern governorate of Kebili, has said he is confident of reaching the second round of the election.
His party is seen as mostly supportive of Mr Saied, and backed the president's actions in July 2021.
However, Mr Maghzaoui has been highly critical of Mr Saied after announcing his decision to run for president, accusing the incumbent of infringing on the electoral law and using state resources to conduct an early electoral campaign.
After announcing that he would seek a second term, Mr Saied has been travelling across the country for sudden inspections of public facilities and impromptu meetings with people in remote cities and villages. His opponents accused him of taking advantage of his privileges as President.
Mr Maghzaoui also denounced the rhetoric that supporting the incumbent president is necessary to hold on to “the democratic tradition”.
“Tunisians have two options, either to continue [to support] a rhetoric that accuses everyone of treason or to make real change through the ballot box on October 6,” he said at a press conference last week.
The presidential election will be the country’s third since a popular uprising in 2011 ousted long-time president Zine El Abidine Ben Ali.
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When is VAR used?
• Goals
• Penalty decisions
• Direct red-card incidents
• Mistaken identity
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- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
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Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder
Power: 245hp @ 5,500rpm
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Transmission: Nine-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 7.0L / 100km
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ESSENTIALS
The flights
Emirates flies direct from Dubai to Rio de Janeiro from Dh7,000 return including taxes. Avianca fliles from Rio to Cusco via Lima from $399 (Dhxx) return including taxes.
The trip
From US$1,830 per deluxe cabin, twin share, for the one-night Spirit of the Water itinerary and US$4,630 per deluxe cabin for the Peruvian Highlands itinerary, inclusive of meals, and beverages. Surcharges apply for some excursions.
MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
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Rating: 3.5/5
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Frankfurt: Hinteregger (52', 55')
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No more lice
Defining head lice
Pediculus humanus capitis are tiny wingless insects that feed on blood from the human scalp. The adult head louse is up to 3mm long, has six legs, and is tan to greyish-white in colour. The female lives up to four weeks and, once mature, can lay up to 10 eggs per day. These tiny nits firmly attach to the base of the hair shaft, get incubated by body heat and hatch in eight days or so.
Identifying lice
Lice can be identified by itching or a tickling sensation of something moving within the hair. One can confirm that a person has lice by looking closely through the hair and scalp for nits, nymphs or lice. Head lice are most frequently located behind the ears and near the neckline.
Treating lice at home
Head lice must be treated as soon as they are spotted. Start by checking everyone in the family for them, then follow these steps. Remove and wash all clothing and bedding with hot water. Apply medicine according to the label instructions. If some live lice are still found eight to 12 hours after treatment, but are moving more slowly than before, do not re-treat. Comb dead and remaining live lice out of the hair using a fine-toothed comb.
After the initial treatment, check for, comb and remove nits and lice from hair every two to three days. Soak combs and brushes in hot water for 10 minutes.Vacuum the floor and furniture, particularly where the infested person sat or lay.
Courtesy Dr Vishal Rajmal Mehta, specialist paediatrics, RAK Hospital
Overview
What: The Arab Women’s Sports Tournament is a biennial multisport event exclusively for Arab women athletes.
When: From Sunday, February 2, to Wednesday, February 12.
Where: At 13 different centres across Sharjah.
Disciplines: Athletics, archery, basketball, fencing, Karate, table tennis, shooting (rifle and pistol), show jumping and volleyball.
Participating countries: Algeria, Bahrain, Comoros, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Palestine, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, Qatar and UAE.
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Non-fungible tokens (NFTs) are tokens that represent ownership of unique items. They allow the tokenisation of things such as art, collectibles and even real estate.
An NFT can have only one official owner at one time. And since they're minted and secured on the Ethereum blockchain, no one can modify the record of ownership, not even copy-paste it into a new one.
This means NFTs are not interchangeable and cannot be exchanged with other items. In contrast, fungible items, such as fiat currencies, can be exchanged because their value defines them rather than their unique properties.
