Tunisian President Kais Saied has achieved a decisive victory in the country’s election, consolidating his hold on power with an overwhelming 90.7% of the vote, according to the Independent High Authority for Elections. This victory comes amid significant concerns over political repression, as Saied’s first term was marked by the imprisonment of opponents and extensive reforms that increased his authority over Tunisia’s institutions.

Exit polls released the previous day indicated Saied had an insurmountable lead, confirming the expectations of many observers. In a speech at his campaign headquarters, the 66-year-old populist vowed to “cleanse the country of all the corrupt and schemers,” emphasizing his commitment to protect Tunisia from both foreign and domestic threats.

However, the election results have raised alarms among critics of Saied, including Sghayer Zakraoui, a law professor at the University of Tunis. Zakraoui criticized the election as a reflection of a return to an era of concentrated power reminiscent of former President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, who ruled for over two decades before being ousted during the Arab Spring. He remarked that Saied’s approach signals a troubling trend of “the absolute power of a single man who places himself above everyone else” and suggests a belief in a “messianic message.”

Saied’s vote share exceeds that of Ben Ali in 2009, just two years before protests forced the former dictator to flee the country. The closest challenger in the recent election, businessman Ayachi Zammel, garnered only 7.4% of the vote, having spent much of the campaign in prison facing multiple sentences for election-related offenses.

As Tunisia navigates this pivotal moment in its political landscape, the implications of Saied’s continued presidency for the nation’s democratic institutions and civil liberties remain a topic of intense debate and scrutiny.