King Mohammed announces elections will be held in september 2002
Morocco, Politics, 10/13/2001

Morocco's King Mohammed VI announced that the legislative elections will be held next September, as he addressed members of the two parliamentary chambers -the House of Representatives and the Chamber of Advisors, gathered at the opening of the fall session of the fifth legislative year.

The sovereign said he is resolved to endeavor for the honesty of the polls stressing "We are resolutely determined to endeavor to make of the honesty of elections the main gate to access a credible legislative institution."

The king also called the public authorities and political parties to "fully shoulder their responsibilities, to secure the necessary legal, judicial and administrative guarantees to guarantee the honesty of elections and moralize the electoral process." Political parties were further called to mobilize for a "massive and conscious turnout" and pay attention to the profile of candidates and to honest and loyal competitiveness.

Regarding the draft electoral code, scheduled to be adopted in the present legislative year, the king urged the parliament members "to remain attached to the virtues of national consensus, to see to it that the general interest and constructive dialogue prevail, so as to consolidate legal guarantees to a credible poll." He also insisted that "only efficient political parties are likely to guarantee honest polls," stressing that only one winner should emerge from the elections "Moroccan democracy, where all national political sensitivities can find their genuine place, in a sound, healthy political landscape."

The projected polls in September will elect through direct suffrage the 325 members of the lower chamber -the House of Representatives. The chamber of advisors is elected for a nine-year term through indirect suffrage by colleges of trade unions, local councils and professional chambers. One third of its members are renewed every three years.

Previous Stories:
  Moroccan-Angolan talks on parliamentary cooperation   (10/9/2001)
  King Mohammed vows elections will be transparent   (9/4/2001)
  Royal speech delivered Monday evening   (8/21/2001)

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