Ahmed Nafatti, the manager of Mekki’s campaign, condemned the decision as unfair and an attempt to exclude serious players from the race. Despite the ruling, Mekki’s campaign plans to submit his candidacy papers. Chaari also criticised the verdict, calling it a shocking attempt to prevent them from running after a series of restrictions.
In a related development, a separate court sentenced prominent Saied opponent Abir Moussi to two years in prison on charges of insulting the election commission. Last month, another potential candidate, Lotfi Mraihi, was sentenced to eight months in prison and banned from running in the presidential elections on similar vote-buying charges.
