Moroccan Government Approves New Decrees on Parliamentary Election Rules

The Moroccan government has approved two draft decrees aimed at updating regulations governing the election of members of the House of Representatives of Morocco.

The measures were adopted during a meeting of the Government Council in Rabat and were presented by the Minister of the Interior, according to government spokesperson Mustapha Baitas.

Speaking at a press briefing following the meeting, Baitas explained that the first decree, Draft Decree No. 2.26.278, amends a previous regulation issued on October 19, 2011, which established the format and content of the single ballot paper used in parliamentary elections.

The new decree clarifies provisions concerning how candidate lists are arranged on the unified ballot paper during both general and partial elections for members of the House of Representatives.

The second decree, Draft Decree No. 2.26.279, updates and supplements a regulation adopted on August 10, 2016, concerning campaign spending limits for candidates running in parliamentary elections.

According to Baitas, the revised decree raises the maximum amount candidates are allowed to spend during election campaigns. The ceiling has been increased from 500,000 Moroccan dirhams to 600,000 dirhams for each candidate participating in general or partial elections for the lower chamber of parliament.

The adjustment aims to reflect the rising costs associated with electoral campaigns and to better align spending limits with the realities of modern political campaigning.

The adoption of the two decrees forms part of ongoing efforts by Moroccan authorities to refine the legal framework governing elections and ensure clearer rules for candidates and political parties participating in parliamentary contests.