The Forum of the Zahraa for Moroccan Women has released a preliminary assessment of the recent legislative elections, highlighting several observations related to women's participation. According to the forum, some party members were asked to pay financial amounts in exchange for obtaining a party endorsement. This was presented to them as a contribution to financing the election campaign. However, the forum argues that this justification does not align with the financial support provided by the state to political parties, which is exclusively allocated to fund election campaigns.
The forum claims that data it has collected indicates that some members were not nominated due to their inability to pay these amounts, while others who made significant financial contributions were endorsed and placed at the top of regional lists. The forum warns that if this situation persists, it will impact the purpose of adopting regional lists, which aims to increase the political representation of women. The forum fears that access to the legislative institution will become dependent on financial capabilities rather than competence and political background.
The forum's data shows that women's participation in local constituencies is limited, with 875 female nominations out of 5,505 total nominations, representing 15.89%. Women headed only 121 out of 1,615 local lists, accounting for 7.49%. The forum attributes these numbers to the fact that political parties still do not offer women prominent positions in local constituencies, which provide opportunities for winning. Instead, women's presence is concentrated in regional constituencies reserved for them.
The forum also examined the nature of some female nominations, noting that a portion of them have a family character. The forum cites electoral posters that show connections between some candidates and families that have previously held parliamentary seats, whether it concerns fathers, mothers, or siblings. This has led the forum to conclude that these cases indicate the continuation of a phenomenon of political inheritance.
The forum views these cases as an indicator that the mechanisms for representing women are being used to reproduce elite families, which it believes is inconsistent with the principles of parity and equal opportunities. According to the forum, this situation may undermine the objective of increasing women's representation in politics. The assessment also highlights the need for a more inclusive and equitable electoral process.
The Forum of the Zahraa for Moroccan Women is calling for a more transparent and fair electoral process, where women's participation is not conditioned by financial means. The forum's findings have sparked concerns about the effectiveness of measures aimed at promoting women's representation in Moroccan politics.
The issue has raised questions about the role of political parties in promoting women's participation and the need for greater accountability in the electoral process.
Key points
- The forum's findings highlight concerns over women's participation in Moroccan politics
- Women's participation in local constituencies is limited
- The forum calls for a more transparent and fair electoral process
