Heavy participation in Moroccan election
Morocco, Politics, 11/15/1997

Moroccan voters participated in parliamentary elections to select 325 members for the parliament and 270 members for the Council of Advisors.

The Southern provinces (the Sahara) participated in this election, which is not the first time the Saharans participated in the elections. But what is new is that the three Saharan provinces are participating in this election to nominate their representatives to the parliament while they are preparing for the referendum which will be held under the UN auspices in December 1998. The referendum will determine either their independence or merger with Morocco.

The Moroccan government considers the participation of the Saharans in this election as legal, as it is different from the referendum, which is an international issue held under the UN's auspices.

The current election witnesses competition between 16 parties including some parties that have been always boycotting the election and other newly formed parties.

Previous Stories:
  Violent confrontations between nominees in Moroccan elections   (11/13/1997)
  Islamic party allowed to participate in Moroccan election   (11/12/1997)
  Memorandum from the opposition to King Hassan II   (9/9/1997)

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