A Tunisian court confirmed an imprisonment sentence earlier, handed down to a presidential contender ahead of elections scheduled for Sunday.

His lawyer said the appeals court in the city of Jendouba in western Tunisia had upheld the 20-month jail sentence against detained presidential candidate Ayachi Zammel.

His lawyer said the ruling can be appealed and will not affect Mr Zammel’s candidacy.

Last month, a lower court issued a sentence against Mr Zammel, a businessman and the head of the liberal Azimoun party, on charges of falsifying electoral endorsements.

The October 6 election pits incumbent President Kais Saied against Mr Zammel and Zouhair Maghzaoui of the leftist nationalist People’s Movement.

According to observers, serious challengers to Mr Saied, who is seeking a second term in office, have been excluded.

The election commission has recently refused to reinstate three more presidential hopefuls who won court appeals to run for president.

Critics have accused the panel of lacking independence and clearing the way for Mr Saied to win, accusations that the panel has denied.

The vote will take place “against a backdrop of increased repression of dissent, muzzling of the media, and continued attacks on judicial independence,” Human Rights Watch said last month.

Since 2021, Mr Saied has consolidated his power by dissolving the parliament and calling early elections, steps the opposition called a “coup.”

(dpa/NAN)