Tunisians are going to the polls on December 17 to vote in parliamentary elections that parties opposed to President Kais Saied are boycotting.
The country’s parliament last convened in July 2021, and in March of this year was controversially dissolved by President Saied, who has granted himself sweeping powers.
At the time, the president said the moves were necessary to save the country amid protracted political and economic crisis, and many Tunisians welcomed them, but critics feared the power grab jeopardizes Tunisia’s young democracy.
Previously, lawmakers were selected through party lists, but in Saturday’s poll candidates will stand for single constituencies where they must win a simple majority or face a run-off vote in a month’s time.
