Morocco World News/ Correo Diplomatico
Morocco World News/ Correo Diplomatico
New York, December 10, 2011
The National Council of Human Rights (CNDH) has released its preliminary report on its observations of Morocco’s November 25th legislative elections. The report provides an account of several incidents that have tarnished the normal development of the electoral campaign and the subsequent polls.
On the basis of the notes collected by 249 observers from CNDH, the report accounted 372 cases of verbal or physical aggression involving the candidates or their supporters. In 91.3% of the cases reported, there were insults, defamation and including racist slanders.
The CNDH also observed up to 371 cases of electoral corruption, where almost half of them (45.42%) involved some economic transaction intended to manipulate the orientation of voters. Also, the document cites 89 cases in which the candidates have employed means of the State or local authorities to manipulate outcomes during the electoral campaign. Each and every one of the evoked irregularities is now in the hands of the competent authorities in order to conduct an investigation and to take appropriate action where necessary.
Close monitoring
Along with the CNDH, the mobilization of electoral observers for the legislative elections on November 25th was unprecedented in the history of Morocco. A large number of national and international NGOs, research centers and government and intergovernmental institutions, as well as diplomats and individuals in their personal capacity, have closely followed the developments of the campaign and election day. In total, the number of people mobilized for this purpose amounted to 3799 observers.
Morocco World News has exclusive partnership with Correo Diplomatico and is the only entity allowed to publish its content in English. The English version of the story is © Morocco World News. This article can only be published as is with the link to Morocco World News, unless a written consent is given.
