President Kais Saied set Oct. 6 for the election in a decree issued late Tuesday, according to a statement from the presidency. Saied’s first term ends on Oct. 23. The election will be voters’ first chance to evaluate Saied’s tenure amid an economic crisis and the drift into authoritarianism. Analysts expect he will run for a second, five-year term given that the new constitution grants him full powers. Tunisia’s main opposition coalition has said it won’t take part in the presidential election unless Saied’s political opponents are freed and judicial independence is restored.
