Mraihi joins a rising record of President Saied’s political opponents who’re in jail or dealing with prosecution.
The top of Tunisia’s Republican Union Get together, Lotfi Mraihi, who has introduced his intention to run in a presidential election set for October, has been arrested on suspicion of cash laundering.
In accordance with politicians and native media experiences, the arrest befell on Wednesday in Nabeul province in northeastern Tunisia.
A Tunis court docket spokesman stated earlier this week that Mraihi, certainly one of President Kais Saied’s most distinguished critics, faces prices of cash laundering and opening financial institution accounts overseas with no licence from the central financial institution.
Mraihi’s arrest comes as opposition events, lots of whose leaders are in jail, accused Saied’s authorities of exerting stress on the judiciary to trace down Saied’s rivals within the upcoming election and pave the way in which for him to win a second time period.
Elected president in 2019, Saied has not formally introduced his candidacy for the election, which is about for October 6, however he’s broadly anticipated to hunt a second time period. He stated final yr that he wouldn’t hand energy to what he known as nonpatriots.
Abir Moussi, the chief of the Free Constitutional Get together and a distinguished candidate, has been in jail since final yr on prices of harming public safety.
Moussi’s celebration stated she was imprisoned to take away her from the presidential race, a declare denied by the authorities.
Different candidates – together with Safi Saeed, Nizar Chaari and Abd Ellatif Mekki – are dealing with prosecution on prices similar to fraud and cash laundering.
Mondher Znaidi, a distinguished potential candidate who resides in France, can be dealing with prosecution on suspicion of corruption.
The opposition says truthful and credible elections can’t be held until imprisoned politicians are launched and the media are allowed to work with out stress from the federal government.
In 2021, Saied seized virtually all powers, dissolved parliament and commenced ruling by decree, a transfer that the opposition describes as a coup.
He oversaw the writing of a new structure, authorized by referendum in 2022, which established a presidential system and weakened parliament.
Saied stated his steps have been authorized and essential to finish years of rampant corruption among the many political elite.
Outstanding opponents of the president have been detained since final yr on prices of conspiring in opposition to state safety in a crackdown that included businessmen, media figures and politicians.