From September 2 through September 10, 2007, members of the International Election Monitors Institute participated in an election monitoring mission to Morocco, under the organization of the National Democratic Institute (NDI). The Canadian Association of Former Parliamentarians was represented by Doug Rowland, Helene Chalifour Scherrer and Paddy Torsney. The European Parliament Former Members Association was represented by Marie-Christine Aulas and Lousewies van der Laan. The U.S. Association of Former Members of Congress was represented by Jack Buechner and Pete Weichlein. The group joined an international delegation of 52 observers from 19 countries. Former President of Bolivia Jorge Quiroga served as the delegation’s chairman.
On election day, September 7, the international delegation deployed to 12 regions in the country and visited 375 polling stations. In addition, observers participated in briefings and meetings before election day to ascertain the political and legal climate in which the Moroccan electorate could cast their votes. Meeting participants included representatives of political parties, government officials, candidates, civic leaders, domestic observers, electoral authorities, representatives of the international and domestic media, and voters.
The former legislators observed a well administered and transparent election process on September 7th. Moroccan authorities had trained polling officials well and ensured that voters were given the opportunity to cast a secret ballot without undue influence. It should also be noted that all IEMI monitors reported witnessing a large number of women voters participating in the process (in some regions the percentage of women voters appeared higher than that of men). There were isolated reports of irregularities, but the overall impression garnered by the IEMI monitors is that the government of Morocco should be congratulated on a free, fair and transparent election day process.
The IEMI monitors associate themselves with the preliminary statement issued by the international monitoring delegation on September 8, 2007 (http://www.accessdemocracy.org/library/2189_mco_elect_prestatement_090807.pdf). Particularly, the former legislators participating in the Morocco mission wish to highlight the delegation’s comments regarding the low voter turnout (estimated at 37%) and the high number of protest votes. In its statement the international delegation suggests that the low turnout and the high number of protest votes are evidence that further political reform is needed in Morocco. Former parliamentarians can play a crucial role in encouraging widespread engagement in the political process and it is IEMI’s hope that over the next five years leading up to Morocco’s 2012 elections, former legislators will be invited to assist in developing reforms such as civic education, effective political leadership and party financing.
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