Race for local seats in Morocco set to start
Morocco, Politics, 8/27/2003

The electoral campaign for the local polls, due next September 12 in Morocco, will be launched on August 27.

The local elections are deemed an enhancement of the fresh concept of authority encouraged by king Mohammed VI who said it is high time for local authorities to change their methods of administrative management and adopt a liable democratic policy in such a way as to promote their role as major socio-economic actors.

The polls will take place under a new legal arsenal devised in light of previous experiences and the recommendations of various social actors to move from decentralization to a new phase that makes of democracy and sound management of local authorities a groundwork.

The electoral system reform aims among others to consolidate a democracy of proximity, enhance decisions' autonomy, promote liberties, improve standards of public officials and simplify the norms of running local councils.

The local polls are taking place at a time of deep changes in the Moroccan society, changes that require political parties to change their programs and speeches to keep pace with the challenges of modern times.

The Moroccan people "is no longer prepared to accept that certain parties indulge in the use of pompous, meaningless slogans. Nor will it let such obsolete mottos jeopardize efforts to tackle the real challenges of the present and the future," said King Mohammed VI in the Speech of the throne day celebrated last July 30.

To achieve this objective and to provide equal chances for candidates, the electoral code was amended in a manner inspired from the principle that honest competition can only be secured if the means of all candidates are equal, hence a financial support will be allocated to political organizations under the form of contribution to fund political parties' electoral campaigns.

The electoral code bans, however, any covert financing of electoral campaigns and draws up tough measures to guarantee candidates' respect of the ceiling set for electoral expenses.

Keen on guaranteeing polls' transparency and credibility, the departments of the Interior and of Justice recently published a joint circular note underlining measures that will be applied to repress breachers to electoral laws, particularly attempts to influence voters' will and their free choices.

Attempts to deviate Morocco's democratic process, to use the country's democratic regime for ends contrary to its fundamental choices to harm public order, peace and security will also be punished, the note said.

Previous Stories:
  Morocco's Islamist party calls for mobilization to face plots against Morocco's integrity   (8/26/2003)
  Morocco vows to transparency in local poll   (8/26/2003)
  Stronger democracy goes through strong political parties, King Mohammed   (7/31/2003)

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