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Morocco holds first direct Parliament elections

Voting in Rabat November 14, 1997
Web posted at: 2:31 p.m. EST (1931 GMT)

RABAT, Morocco (CNN) -- Moroccans defied pouring rain to vote on Friday in the first direct elections for a house of Parliament, countering analysts' opinions that voters were apathetic about the election.

Voting got off to a slow start. But shortly before midday, more than 20 percent of the 13 million eligible voters had cast their ballots nationwide, the official news agency MAP reported.

In three parts of the capital Rabat, officials at polling stations said the turnout had reached 25 to 30 percent of total potential voters by afternoon.

"This is better than the last time (in 1993)," said an official at a station in Ocean district. "People are better informed, and the parties mobilized more of them than before."

He predicted a surge after Friday prayers and as rain eased.

Observers from each of the different parties were on hand to monitor the poll. Transparent ballot boxes, introduced this year, are being used to counteract any attempts at fraud.

No clear majority

In this election, the 325 seats of the lower assembly are being contested by 3,319 candidates -- nearly 10 for each constituency -- in 16 political parties. Analysts say just six of those parties stand a realistic chance of winning more than a handful of seats.

And although nearly a dozen parties are united in three coalition groups -- the pro-government Wifaq, the opposition Koutla, and the Center group -- none has been able to agree on submitting their assembly candidates under the umbrella organizations to increase their chances.

Final results are due on Saturday. King Hassan II will appoint a prime minister to form a new government on the basis of the results.

New constitution calls for direct vote

A new constitution, designed by King Hassan and approved by a public referendum last year, calls for the House of Representatives to be directly elected. In the old version, only two-thirds were.

But the lower assembly's decisions can still be countermanded by the upper house, which is elected indirectly by leaders of regional and municipal councils and professional groups. And the king can still dissolve the government.

There were some claims of voting irregularities before voting booths opened.

Hafid Boutaleb, a member of one of the top opposition parties, said voter lists prepared earlier this year contained 800,000 names of people who are either dead or don't exist.

But some have also accused the opposition of election fraud. The claims play into the hands of Islamic hard-line groups, of which the largest and most militant is Justice and Spirituality.

Although the group is banned under a law that forbids parties formed on the basis of religion, it has strong support among students and the poor.

 
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