Elections à la Marocaine
Moroccans go to the polls tomorrow in what is billed as the country’s first free and fair elections. Although the citizenry will be faced with a choice between twenty-six (!) parties, it seems at least a positive step that any voting violations will be punished with stiff prison terms and that a minimum of 10% of parliament seats will be for women representatives. I am not a big fan of the quota system, but I guess in this case it will be useful because it means that many more votes for the reform of the Moudawana (legal system that covers women’s rights). Also worthy of note is the almost certain exit of Youssoufi, who had served as Premier for nearly 10 years.
