![Security forces take measures outside the courthouse in capital Tunis, Tunisia on July 19, 2022 [Yassine Gaidi - Anadolu Agency]](https://i0.wp.com/www.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/AA-20220719-28454892-28454891-SOLIDARITY_PROTEST_WITH_RACHED_GHANNOUCHI_IN_TUNISIA.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1)
A Tunisian court has rejected the appeals of four presidential candidates who objected to being excluded by the country’s Independent High Authority for Elections from running in the upcoming elections scheduled for 6 October.
The Administrative Court rejected the appeals filed by Secretary-General of the Labour and Achievement Party, Abdellatif Mekki, former health minister, Mondher Zenaidi, and political activist, Abir Moussi. The court has previously rejected the candidacy of politician and former education minister, Naji Jalloul.
The court cited “errors” that marred the process of collecting popular endorsements from voters.
It said it had received seven appeals from candidates, noting that the decision regarding the remaining appeals will be announced today.
For its part, the Independent High Authority for Elections said it had accepted the files of three candidates, including current President Kais Saied and rejected 14 candidates for not completing the official documents, including the required number of popular endorsements and the financial guarantee estimated at about $3,000.
The authority is expected to announce the final list of candidates after the end of the appeals and litigation stages on 3 September.
The campaign team of Abdellatif Mekki said they will appeal the administrative court’s decision.
President Saied is facing criticism from human rights organisations due to a campaign of arrests against opposition politicians on charges of conspiring against state security and other cases related to corruption and terrorism files ahead of the election.
The opposition says the charges are “fabricated and politically motivated”.