A new Tunisian initiative to support Kais Saied path in the face of political Islam

In support of the process led by Tunisian President Kais Saied, now known as the July 25 Track, Tunisian politicians, trade unionists and civil society activists launched on Sunday a new initiative called “Let the People Win”, in preparation for the early legislative elections, which will be held on December 17.

“The initiative is a national, popular, horizontal, and open framework for the Tunisian public and all its various forces that believe in the depth of the revolution and completely boycott it, along with the pre-2010 (former President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali) and pre-2021 systems, to achieve political, social, and economic change, proceed with the building of the new republic, and support, unify, and bring closer all the struggles and fighters of this national sovereign line,” the activists and politicians said in the founding statement.

“The initiative is not just an electoral tool, but rather a fusion of my struggle on the basis of a crucial transitional mission and unity of destiny with the general public to face the challenges of January 17, 2022 and beyond, and an intensive expression of an integrated national project in various fields,” the statement added.

This initiative is a response to the widening circle of boycotts and dissent of elections by prominent political parties such as the Free Constitutional Party, the Muslim Brotherhood’s Ennahdha Movement, Afek Tounes, and the Labor Party.

The initiators confirmed that it would include 15 points; “These include the affirmation of fundamental human rights and other public and individual rights and freedoms, the independence of the judiciary, and the establishment of fair judicial accountability, in addition to their call for justice among individuals, marginalized groups and vulnerable groups.”

“The initiative was joined by trade unionists, civil society activists, and prominent politicians, notably the Secretary General of the pro-Saied Popular Movement Party, Zuhair Hamdi, former Dean of Lawyers Ibrahim Bouderbala, a number of activists close to the Tunisian President, Reda Shehab El Mekki, Ahmed Sheftar, a university professor loyal to President Rafi al-Tayeb, and former member of the Tunisian General Union for Labor, Mohamed Ali El Bougdiri.”

The number of political parties boycotting the parliamentary elections, which will be held in Tunisia on December 17th, is on the rise in protest against the new electoral law approved by President Kais Saied, amidst fears that this will affect the rate of participation in the voting.

These boycotting parties consider that the electoral law passed by Saied establishes a system of one-person rule, a parliament without powers, gives political parties a lesser role, reduces their representation and participation in political life, and abolishes the mechanism of inequity that ensures that as many women as possible have access to the legislative authority.

However, Tunisian President Kais Saied pledged on Friday to introduce a new amendment to the electoral law, saying that he will make a new amendment to the electoral law, justifying his step by the existence of “fraud by acclamation” and the spread of “corrupted money”, considering that “the sacred national duty requires its amendment to put an end to this shameful phenomenon.”

The upcoming parliamentary elections are the last stop on the roadmap announced by President Kais Saied since July 25th last year. He began organizing a popular electronic consultation on political and constitutional reforms.