Rabat - Moroccans residing abroad will not be able to directly participate in the legislative and communal elections scheduled in October 2016, Minister for Moroccans Residing Abroad and Migration Affairs, Anis Birou, said.
Rabat – Moroccans residing abroad will not be able to directly participate in the legislative and communal elections scheduled in October 2016, Minister for Moroccans Residing Abroad and Migration Affairs, Anis Birou, said.
The Minister, who was speaking during the Moroccan of the World Youth Forum held in Marrakech, ruled out any direct participation of the Moroccan diaspora in the coming elections, despite the fact that Chapter 17 of the 2011 constitution expressly provides for the right of Moroccans abroad to vote and stand for election.
The Minister estimated that the “formula in force in most countries is based on voting by proxy,” as the website of the daily newspaper Al Ahdath Al Maghribia reported. The five million members of the Moroccan diaspora will thus not be able to elect their representatives because of the practical and logistical difficulties the government spoke about.
Anis Birou announced on Medi1 TV on Mars 29 that his party had requested, in a letter to the head of the government, to facilitate the participation conditions of Moroccans abroad in the upcoming parliamentary elections of October 7. However, his recent statement during the forum defeats any chance of their participation.
The Minister called on forum participants to cast their vote in elections of October 7 by proxy by appointing people they trust to vote on behalf of them. Birou, the source added, invited young people to create associations in host countries. He also promised financial support from his department to some projects led by Moroccans of the World.
