Women cast their votes in Rabat, Morocco, on Friday, Nov. 25, 2011. Moroccans participated in parliamentary elections on Friday, inspired by the Arab Spring -
Copyright © africanews
Copyright 2011 AP. All rights reserved.
Morocco
The campaign for Morocco's legislative elections commenced on Thursday, as the ruling coalition aims to maintain its position amidst rising dissatisfaction regarding economic and regional disparities.
These inequalities are expected to be a central topic during the election, which is scheduled just days before the first anniversary of a youth-led protest movement.
Stagnant economic growth and high youth unemployment have gained attention following a significant influx of migrants, predominantly Moroccans, into the nearby Spanish enclave of Ceuta in July.
The competing parties are looking to harness this discontent, even as political apathy remains prevalent among the youth.
Only around three percent of registered voters fall within the 18 to 24 age bracket.
Close to 16 million individuals have registered to choose 395 representatives for the House of Representatives on September 23.
Morocco's king appoints the prime minister, currently Aziz Akhannouch, from the party that secures the highest number of seats.
The prime minister subsequently forms a government for a five-year duration, while the king retains authority over significant policy decisions.
Political parties have unveiled their platforms on social media, yet Moroccan media outlets have raised questions regarding some of the commitments made in their campaigns.
News site Le360 criticized the "stunning financial commitments" made by certain parties.
It remarked that their platforms contained appealing social and economic promises but lacked transparency on their funding.
Political analyst Abdellah Tourabi noted in the weekly magazine TelQuel that the campaign is devoid of meaningful political discourse.
Additional sources • AFP
