Total of 253 law enforcement agents suspended from work, prime minister

Morocco's Prime minister, Driss Jettou, told the government this Thursday that the interior ministry has suspended the activity of 253 law enforcement agents who have relatives running for this September 12 local elections or against whom complaints have been filed.

The prime minister explained that the suspension of these employees of the interior ministry is a preventive measure to guarantee the neutrality of the administration in the polls, government spokesman and communication minister, Nabil Benabdellah, told reporters at the end of the weekly government meeting.

The prime minister also briefed the government on the train of organizational, technical and material measures taken to secure the good unfolding of elections. As part of these measures, a total of 14,636,000 new electoral cards were delivered, including 9,682,000 that were picked nationwide as of this September 3.

Regarding complaints made by candidates, the prime minister said there were 85 complaints nationwide, including 77 that were already examined by courts that accepted 12 complaints and rejected another 65. The other complaints will be examined this Thursday at the latest, says the head of the government.

Meanwhile, courts also received, as of Wednesday, 73 complaints for breaches during the electoral campaign. These complaints are being investigated.