Over 122,000 candidates run for local polls in Morocco
Morocco, Politics, 8/29/2003

Some 122,658 candidates mostly representing political parties, will vie for 23,689 seats in local urban and rural councils throughout Morocco, part of the polls, to be held on September 12.

The Istiqlal Party (PI) topped all parties and fielded 12,904 candidates. It is followed by the Socialist Union of Popular Forces (USFP) with 11,925 candidates.

The Party of Justice and Development (PJD, Islamist) which won 42 seats in last year's legislative elections, ran 4,268 candidates.

The National Rally of Independence (RNI) totalled a number of 9,105 candidates. The Berber-oriented parties of the Popular Movement (MP) and the National Popular Movement (MNP) presented 7,880 and 6,161 candidates respectively.

Independent candidates, known in Morocco as SAP, numbered 3,033 candidates.

Some 52,379 candidates, grouped in 1,767 lists, will run for election in the 104 urban and rural local councils where a voting system by list will be enforced. The vote by list will be adopted in constituencies whose population is more than 25,000 strong.

On the other hand, uninominal voting system will be enforced in the 19,451 constituencies hosting less than 25,000 inhabitants. The number of candidates fielded in these constituencies stand at 48,801, ie. two candidates per seat.

The 122,658 candidates, whose numbers is still temporary until the delivery of final receipts by the competent authorities, started campaigning for election on August 27 at midnight. The campaign will down curtain on election eve, ie. on September 11 at midnight.

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