Mraihi joins a rising checklist of President Saied’s political opponents who’re in jail or dealing with prosecution.
The top of Tunisia’s Republican Union Social gathering, 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 line with politicians and native media studies, the arrest occurred on Wednesday in Nabeul province in northeastern Tunisia.
A Tunis courtroom spokesman stated earlier this week that Mraihi, considered one of President Kais Saied’s most outstanding critics, faces fees of cash laundering and opening financial institution accounts overseas with out a 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 strain 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 extensively anticipated to hunt a second time period. He stated final 12 months that he wouldn’t hand energy to what he known as nonpatriots.
Abir Moussi, the chief of the Free Constitutional Social gathering and a outstanding candidate, has been in jail since final 12 months on fees of harming public safety.
Moussi’s occasion 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 fees resembling fraud and cash laundering.
Mondher Znaidi, a outstanding potential candidate who resides in France, can also 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 strain from the federal government.
In 2021, Saied seized nearly 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, permitted by referendum in 2022, which established a presidential system and weakened parliament.
Saied stated his steps had been authorized and needed to finish years of rampant corruption among the many political elite.
Outstanding opponents of the president have been detained since final 12 months on fees of conspiring towards state safety in a crackdown that included businessmen, media figures and politicians.
