A Tunisian court on Monday, August 5th, sentenced four potential presidential candidates to eight months in prison, barring them from running for office for life on charges of "buying endorsements." Political analysts and lawyers have condemned the ruling, alleging it is an attempt to eliminate serious contenders for President Qais Saied's re-election bid in the upcoming October 6th vote.

The ruling has fueled concerns among opposition parties, candidates, and human rights groups, who accuse the authorities of utilizing "arbitrary restrictions" and intimidation to pave the way for Saied's re-election.

The individuals sentenced include prominent politician Abdel Latif Al-Maki, activist Nizar Al-Sha'eri, judge Murad Masoudi, and candidate Adel Al-Dou. Ahmed Al-Naffati, Al-Maki's campaign manager, stated that their team will proceed with submitting Al-Maki's candidacy on Tuesday despite the court's decision.

"The decision is unjust and aims to exclude a serious competitor from the race," Al-Naffati told Reuters. "This will not stop us from submitting his candidacy tomorrow."

Al-Sha'eri also expressed his shock at the ruling, stating to Reuters, "It is a shocking verdict aimed at keeping us from running in the race."

Local radio station Mosaïque FM reported that another court on Monday also sentenced prominent opposition figure Abeer Moussi to two years in prison for insulting the election commission.

Last month, a judge sentenced Lotfi Al-Mraihi, a potential presidential candidate and vocal critic of Saied, to eight months in prison on charges of vote-buying. He was also barred from running in the presidential election.

Saied has officially announced his candidacy for a second five-year term.

Elected in 2019, Saied dissolved parliament in 2021 and began ruling by decree, a move the opposition labeled a coup. He has vowed not to relinquish power to those he considers "unpatriotic."

Opposition parties, many of whose leaders are currently imprisoned, accuse Saied's government of pressuring the judiciary to suppress his rivals in the 2024 election and pave the way for his re-election.

Earlier on Monday, at least four prominent potential candidates, including Monzer Al-Zenaidi and Kamal Al-Akrout, claimed that authorities had refused to issue them with criminal record certificates, a new requirement imposed by the election commission.

They accused the authorities of restoring dictatorship and holding a sham election, reminiscent of the period before the Tunisian revolution in 2011.