Regional reactions to Morocco's elections

07/09/2007

Non-Moroccan countries in the Maghreb weigh in on the significance of the elections in Morocco. Mauritania provides a glowing assessment, Tunisia is preoccupied with its own affairs and Algeria is tellingly silent.

By Mohamed Yahya Ould Abdel Wedoud in Nouakchott and Jamel Arfaoui in Tunis – 07/09/2007

[Mohamed Wedoud] Mauritanians hope to see fair elections in Morocco.

On the day of Morocco's legislative elections, many Moroccans await the results of the vote as an indicator of the country's direction in the coming years. The significance of the elections extends beyond the country's borders, however, as the September 7th vote will be another page in the history of democratic development in the Maghreb as a region.

In the Mauritanian capital of Nouakchott, newspapers this week have focused on the Moroccan elections, particularly the independent newspapers. On August 28th, the weekly newspaper Al-Sabeel printed that "The diary of the legislative election campaign in Morocco reflects an increasing awareness of the need for the democratic option that Morocco has been adopting for several years now; something that would outline the features of a promising future for the people of Morocco, who aspire for more freedoms."

In its September 5th issue, L'Authentique wrote, "There is no doubt that free and transparent elections in our sisterly country Morocco would enhance and strengthen the bonds of Maghreb union that are derived from history and geography. This would also pave the way for a promising future for the region as a whole. Not only this, but such an election would push forward the spirit of democracy among the members of the population."

Writer Bon Ould al-Salik told Magharebia, "If Morocco is able to conduct fair, nationally- and internationally-recognised elections, this will deal a decisive blow to the extremist movements in the region and will support peace and calm; something that would strengthen national unity. Democracy is the most effective way to render the philosophy of the callers of violence and extremism bankrupt and void."

Independent politician Bakkar Ould Asnib made the following remarks: "A few months ago, we saw elections in both Mauritania and Algeria. Now we are closely following the Moroccan legislative election and how it can improve the living conditions of the simple citizen by making him the fulcrum of development. The wind of democratic change is blowing steadily in our Greater Maghreb; something that bears glad tidings for a better future, full of political awareness of the need for peaceful change through ballot boxes and nothing else."

[Getty Images] Tunisians are more focused on preparing for Ramadan and the new school year

Reactions in Tunisia are not nearly as passionate. While many Tunisians follow French elections intensely, the current vote in Morocco has not aroused a perceptible level of interest. What few Tunisian newspapers have printed stories on the subject have relied on reprints from international news agencies such as Reuters or Agence France Presse, although unlike the international press, Tunisian media has never printed articles focusing on Morocco's religiously-oriented parties.

Hasan ben Ismail, an employee in a private company, says, "I knew that elections will be held in Morocco, through Al-Jazeera's TV coverage. However, as you see, there is no news on this event in our local media. I don't think that any Tunisians will care about it, even if similar elections were conducted in Tunisia these days."

He added, "The Tunisian street is getting ready for two major events that preoccupy it more than any elections: the coming of the holy month of Ramadan and the return to school."

In most cases, Tunisian authorities do not comment on events in other Maghreb or Arab countries when the matter is related to domestic politics.

In a statement to Magharebia, a Tunisian official said on condition of anonymity that "This position is not new for the Tunisian government that looks at the upcoming Moroccan elections, as well as the previous elections in the Maghreb, as domestic affairs. However, this doesn't mean that it is not interested in the outcome, as any change will have its negative or positive effects on the Maghreb as a whole."

Press critic Khamsi Khayati told Magharebia the lack of interest by Tunisian media in the Moroccan elections can be ascribed to two elements: "Total submission to the external political orientations of the state, [not going] beyond the recognized red lines, and the fact that the media fear the reaction of embassies [in Tunisia]."

Khayati added that "in the case of Morocco, there is strong economic, tourist and political rivalry between Tunisia and Morocco to attract Gulf and European capital. Any sign that would indicate any development of Morocco over Tunisia is not desirable for the Tunisian authorities, and they wouldn't want it to raise the attention of public opinion."

The media critic pointed to the daily Shorouk where the only news on Morocco simply cited articles from the Moroccan press, edited and reprinted cautiously. "As for the other papers," Khayati said, "they don't mention anything at all about Morocco or about the countries of the Maghreb."

Meanwhile, Hamida ben Ramadan, political analyst for the state-run newspaper La Presse expressed his sorrow that Tunisian newspapers hadn't sent correspondents to Morocco to report on the elections on the ground. Rather, "we are now just publishing the news aired by Reuters and AFP." According to Ramadan, the lack of media outlets' interest in the elections can be attributed to "some sort of conviction among many of them that these elections will not lead to any radical and important changes, and will not lead to the rotation of power."