Morocco to hold local elections next september 12
Morocco, Politics, 4/30/2003

Local elections will be held in Morocco next September 12, it was officially announced on Tuesday.

The announcement was made by Moroccan Communication Minister and Spokesman for the Government, Nabil Benabdallah, who was reporting to the press the elections timetable at the end of a weekly meeting of the government council.

The election of professional chambers will be held on July 25, while that of wage-earners representatives will take place between September 10 and 19, said the minister, adding that prefectures and provinces assemblies will elect their members on September 24.

Other polls will be held next October 6 to renew one third of the 270-seat Chamber of Advisors. Members of the Chamber are elected for a nine-year term. One third of the Chamber is renewed every three years.

The Communication Minister added that regional councils will elect their members on October 24.

Benabdallah underlined that the government will endeavour to respect the time-table of elections and guarantee that the coming legislative term will open on the date set by the constitution, i.e. the second Friday of the month of October.

Last Thursday, King Mohammed VI accepted a request by political parties to reschedule the electoral timetable in a way that takes into account domestic and external circumstances and gathers conditions for a massive turnout and fair competition.

The sovereign insisted that the elections timetable should respect the constitution provisions stipulating that the parliament shall open its session on the second Friday of October.

According to Benabdallah, the move to hold the elections in September is not a postponement of the consultations, but rather a readjustment of the electoral time-table.

Parties of the majorities made a proposal in this connection to the Prime Minister, he said, adding the proposal was submitted to King Mohammed VI, who accepted to it.

The official noted that general electoral rolls are currently under scrutiny and the number of people registered will be after study of the lists.

He stressed the government's will do its best to secure a high turnout in the elections, particularly among the youth, through an awareness and media campaign that will run until elections day. The campaign will be supervised by the interior department, he added.

Previous Stories:
  Date of local polls to be announced next Thursday   (4/25/2003)
  Lowering voting age is an important achievement, official   (4/22/2003)
  Asharq Al Awsat: Government comitted to hold local elections by october   (4/22/2003)

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