Morocco's majority parties lobby for TV and radio airtime

03/07/2007

The distribution of audiovisual airtime to Morocco's political parties has sparked debate across the political spectrum.

By Sarah Touahri for Magharebia in Rabat – 03/07/2007

[haca.ma]

After weeks of debate, Morocco's majority parties managed to strike down proposed election-period quotas which would have stipulated giving 40% of airtime to parties which currently represent 90% of Parliament, 30% to parties which represent less than 10% of Parliament and 30% to newly created parties.

The quotas were proposed by the High Authority for Audiovisual Communication (HACA), which signed a convention on March 13th with radio and television broadcasters, providing them with a computer system used to measure the time representatives of each political party spend giving speeches over the airwaves.

The HACA relented to political pressure and announced it would use the same quotas for September's legislative elections as it does in non-electoral periods – 30% each to the government, majority parties and opposition parties, and 10% percent for unrepresented parties. As the government and majority parties are essentially the same, those in power will benefit from 60% of government mandated airtime.

The HACA is an independent regulatory body that that advises the king, parliament and cabinet on issues pertaining to the audiovisual media sector.

"The media are governed by legal and ethical regulations which aim to guarantee the values of openness and pluralism," a Ministry of Communications spokesperson said at a press conference last month. "Parties and syndicates should and must have equal access to television news and other debate-led broadcasts free of any partiality or exclusion."

Majority parties such as the Popular Movement (MP), Socialist Union of Popular Forces (USFP), Istiqlal, Party for Progress and Socialism, Constitutional Union and the National Democratic Party refused to accept the HACA's proposed quotas.

Driss Lachguer, leader of the USFP group in the chamber of representatives, said majority parties have demanded the HACA reconsider its calculations, because the proposed distribution plan is "far from equitable".

The Popular Movement (MP) wrote a letter of protest to Communications Minister Nabil Ben Abdellah. Said Ameskane, MP spokesperson, said in order to respect the principle of equity during election times, the law should grant airtime to political parties according to their representation in parliament during the previous legislative year. "I think the HACA has understood our point of view," he said.

Many of the less-represented political parties disagree with the decision. They feel that distinctions should not be made in electoral campaigns because elections could redraw the political map by changing the ratio of large to small parties in Parliament.

"Free media must pay the same amount of attention to all political groups, even the newer political parties," said Ahmed Sbai, head of the Unified Socialist Party (PSU). "Unfortunately, this is not the current case. Before elections, only majority representatives are seen on public television." Ultimately, he said, "It is the citizen who has the last word."

Some groups have paid no attention to this debate, having concluded that public relations with the electorate are best formed on the ground. "You need to get down next the citizens," said Abdelkrim Benatik, Secretary-General of the Worker’s Party.