Tunisian President Kais Saied has called a presidential election for October 6, setting himself up for possible re-election as many of his political opponents are behind bars.

Announcing the date in an official decree, Saied did not confirm whether he would seek re-election but is widely expected to stand for another five-year term.

The former constitutional law professor was elected to office in 2019 as an anti-establishment stalwart promising to root out corruption.

He took full control of the country in 2021, dismissing the elected parliament and moving to rule by decree in a move the opposition slammed as a coup.

He then oversaw the writing of a new constitution, approved by referendum in 2022, establishing a presidential system and weakening parliament.

Saied’s power grab has pushed Tunisia, whose economy has been faltering for more than a decade, deeper into crisis. Unemployment stands at 15 percent and about four million of the country’s 12 million people live in poverty.

A crackdown has seen the prosecution of more than 60 journalists, lawyers and political opponents, according to the National Union of Tunisian Journalists.