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Mraihi joins a rising listing of President Saied\u2019s political opponents who’re in jail or going through prosecution.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n The top of Tunisia\u2019s Republican Union Occasion, Lotfi Mraihi, who has introduced his intention to run in a presidential election set for October, has been arrested on suspicion of cash laundering.<\/p>\n In accordance with politicians and native media experiences, the arrest occurred on Wednesday in Nabeul province in northeastern Tunisia.<\/p>\n A Tunis court docket spokesman mentioned earlier this week that Mraihi, one in all President Kais Saied\u2019s most distinguished critics, faces costs of cash laundering and opening financial institution accounts overseas with no licence from the central financial institution.<\/p>\n Mraihi\u2019s arrest comes as opposition events, lots of whose leaders are in jail, accused Saied\u2019s authorities of exerting strain on the judiciary to trace down Saied\u2019s rivals within the upcoming election and pave the best way for him to win a second time period.<\/p>\n Elected president in 2019, Saied has not formally introduced his candidacy for the election, which is ready for October 6<\/a>, however he’s broadly anticipated to hunt a second time period. He mentioned final 12 months that he wouldn’t hand energy to what he referred to as nonpatriots.<\/p>\n Abir Moussi, the chief of the Free Constitutional Occasion and a distinguished candidate, has been in jail since final 12 months on costs of harming public safety.<\/p>\n Moussi\u2019s celebration mentioned she was imprisoned to take away her from the presidential race, a declare denied by the authorities.<\/p>\n Different candidates \u2013 together with Safi Saeed, Nizar Chaari and Abd Ellatif Mekki \u2013 are going through prosecution on costs reminiscent of fraud and cash laundering.<\/p>\n Mondher Znaidi, a distinguished potential candidate who resides in France, can also be going through prosecution on suspicion of corruption.<\/p>\n The opposition<\/a> says honest and credible elections can’t be held until imprisoned politicians are launched and the media are allowed to work with out strain from the federal government.<\/p>\n In 2021, Saied seized nearly all powers, dissolved parliament and commenced ruling by decree, a transfer that the opposition describes as a coup.<\/p>\n