The Moroccan elections - the campign starts.

The election campaign for the September 7 elections starts tomorrow (August 25) and the judiciary has been mobilized to protect against fraud and preserve the individual and common rights, according to the First President of the Supreme Court, Driss Dehhak.

"The judiciary is mobilized to play its role in preserving citizens' rights and the legality of the elections that should be transparent and serene", said Mr. Dehhak at the end of a meeting on "elections and judiciary control."

This meeting was an opportunity to highlight the role of the judiciary in moralizing public life in general and political life in particular, he added.

Legislative elections will be held in Morocco, on September 7, to renew the Parliament that is made up of a 325-member House of Representatives elected directly for a five-year term, and a 270-member House of Advisors whose members are indirectly elected for a nine-year term by two sets of electoral colleges.

The upcoming elections will be held in 95 electoral districts compared to 91 during the 2002 elections. This increase is mainly due to evolution of Morocco’s administrative and communal map.

For his part, the Supreme Court Prosecutor Taieb Cherkaoui said magistrates shouldsee to it that law be respected to preserve the noble democratic objective of elections to guarantee their credibility and honesty.

In a nationwide speech marking the 54th anniversary of the Revolution of the King and the People, king Mohammed VI said the judiciary has a “decisive part to play in preserving the sanctity of elections, in fighting all forms of corruption,” calling on the magistrates to “make sure the entire electoral process is consistent with the law.”

He made it clear that “the principle of the separation of powers should be fully respected, and judges must see to it the rule of law prevails in all circumstances.”

Last week, a joint press release from the Ministries of Interior and Justice revealed that 142 election-related offences have been brought, so far, before the examining judge. These include pre-electoral campaigns, the purchase of votes, and the use the state and local authority means. Other cases relate to the use of violence and threats against voters, and the disrespect of election regulations.

One of the most publicized cases is that of the Mayor of the capital, Omar El Bahraoui who already appeared before court on charges of "pre-electoral campaign," "use of the city hall's means to influence the electorate," "electoral promises," but his trial was postponed sine die. He was arrested while holding a meeting at his home attended by some 80 people.

The September 7 elections will be followed, for the first time, by national and international observers. A recent report published by “the International Mission of Preliminary Assessment” of Morocco's legislative elections concluded that the electoral environment in Morocco is marked by "several positive elements," noting the "sustainable effort" of the major political parties in order to be distinct from one another through their political programs addressing specific issues and competitive campaigns based on the electorate's interests.

According to figures of the Ministry of the Interior, some 15,510,505 eligible voters are expected to go to polls during these elections. The electoral campaign is scheduled to start on August 25 and will last until the eve of the elections day.

Our contributor Karima comments about the way ordinary Moroccans feel about the elections. According to Karima it is a hot topic.

Morocco election campaign 2007 will start tomorrow, the 25th of August. This is the main topic of gossip all along the streets Moroccan towns and cities. There are at least 30 political parties preparing themselves for the struggle to win votes. Now each one of them will try to convince as many citizens as possible to vote for them, and this is the hard part of this game –how to make people trust and choose them to be their political leaders.

Being a higher power of all these parties, His Highness Mohammed the sixth has insisted that these elections have to be clear and honest. He is trying successfully to change the fate of his kingdom for the better. Every single citizen is aware of the hard work his majesty is doing to improve Morocco economical, political and social situation, for this reason a majority of Moroccans are ready to work hard for the good of their country.

Tags: Moroccan Morocco Fes, Maghreb news