Morocco rejects EU election monitoring

Morocco has rejected a request for the EU to monitor parliamentary elections in September, citing a legal bar on non-Moroccans being present in polling stations.

The European Commission had asked if it could deploy an election-monitoring mission for the parliamentary elections scheduled for 7 September.

Under current rules, a fully fledged election and observation mission has to have the backing of the host country so the mission will not now go ahead.

According to Commission officials, the legal restrictions against foreigners being present in polling stations make a monitoring mission impossible.

Morocco’s legal claims have not yet been verified by Commission officials, but diplomats have expressed disappointment at the decision.

Both the EU and the United Nations have cited Morocco as a beacon of reform in the Middle East and North Africa.

Diplomats said the decision could prompt a rethink in Europe about Morocco’s committment to reform.

"We are quite disappointed," said a diplomat from one member state, "the EU and Morocco have one of the best partnerships in this region. Morocco has a special status."

Morocco has already been criticised by democracy groups for failing to consult opposition groups in preparing the elections, but EU officials were anxious to play down suggestions of a dispute.

"The Moroccan government does not have a problem with us funding local non-governmental organisations who are working on election monitoring," said one official, "that will continue."

The official also rejected claims that Morocco had opposed an election observation mission for fear of being cast alongside less democratic states.

Morocco has previously allowed foreign election monitors access to polling stations, before the introduction of a 1997 electoral law.

Morocco has rejected a request for the EU to monitor parliamentary elections in September, citing a legal bar on non-Moroccans being present in polling stations.