These are bill n° 10.21 amending and supplementing law 57.11 on the general electoral lists, the referendum operations and the use of public audiovisual media during electoral and referendum campaigns and bill 11.21 amending and supplementing law 9.97 on the Electoral Code and running an exceptional review of the electoral lists of professional chambers.
Introducing the two texts, Interior Minister Abdelouafi Laftit, explained that Bill 10.21 contains four essential procedures likely to modify the current provisions and includes new dispositions. The first provision is intended to update electoral rolls for each general or partial election, he said.
The second provision provides for allowing young women and men, who obtained their IDs for the first time, to enroll in the general electoral lists, Laftit added, adding that the local administrative authority is required to call any young person who has obtained his/her ID for the first time to submit his/her request for registration in the electoral roll of the commune or district of residence.
The third provision involves the electoral campaign, the lifting of the ban of the use of of the national anthem and the official portrait of HM the King set up in the rooms hosting the meetings of electoral campaigns.
In response to requests from political parties to repeal the provision prohibiting the use of certain national symbols in the election campaign, which in some cases leads to the cancellation of elections, the third provision concerns the lifting of the ban.
The fourth measure aims to broaden the scope of action of the support fund to promote the representation of women during general local and legislative elections. It will now cover women working in different professional sectors.
With regards to Bill 11.21, it provides two main provisions, the first of which aims to ensure the representation of women in professional chambers, through the establishment of a legislative mechanism, said Laftit.
As for chambers of agriculture, the bill provides two reserving seats for chambers whose members do not exceed 30 and one seat for every 10 members of the chamber with more than 30 members.
As for the chambers of commerce, industry and services, chambers of crafts and chambers of fisheries, the project provides the inclusion of women in candidate lists.