Tunisian President Kais Saied, who seized wide-ranging powers two years after his 2019 election, on Monday submitted his official candidacy for the country's upcoming presidential election on October 6.
Saied, 66, told reporters in the capital Tunis that his candidacy was part of "a liberation and self-determination war" set to "establish a new republic."
Experts say Saied's challengers face significant constraints in their bid to run for office, while several would-be hopefuls are either in prison or being prosecuted.
But Saied on Monday denied that his government was repressing critical voices, saying that "whoever talks about restrictions is delusional."
Foreign interference
"I did not oppress anyone, and the law applies to everyone equally," he said. "I am here as a citizen to run for office."
"We will not accept any foreign party interfering in the choices of our people," he added.
Saied's submission came just two days after that of Abir Moussi, a vocal critic of Saied who has been in jail since October.
Other jailed hopefuls include Issam Chebbi, leader of centrist party Al Joumhouri, and Ghazi Chaouchi, head of the social-democratic party Democratic Current, both held for "plotting against the state."
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