(U) ELECTIONS IN MOROCCO (C-NE9-00557)

S E C R E T STATE 026706 NOFORN E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/19/2034 TAGS: PINR PGOV PROP MO SUBJECT: (U) ELECTIONS IN MOROCCO (C-NE9-00557) Classified By: SUZANNE MCCORMICK, DIR., INR/OPS. REASON: 1.4(C). ¶1. (C/NF) WITH THE APPROACH OF MOROCCO'S LOCAL ELECTIONS IN JUNE, POLICYMAKERS HAVE SIGNIFICANT INTEREST IN DEMOCRATIZATION EFFORTS IN NORTH AFRICA. WASHINGTON ANALYSTS WOULD GREATLY APPRECIATE POST'S INFORMATION AND PERSPECTIVE, AS TIME AND RESOURCES ALLOW, ON THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS. MANY THANKS, AND REGARDS FROM WASHINGTON. ¶A. (U) WHAT ARE THE ELECTION PREPARATIONS AND PLATFORMS OF THE CANDIDATES? ¶B. (U) WHAT TYPES OF MEDIA ACCESS AND FUNDING DO THE CANDIDATES RECEIVE? ¶C. (U) WHAT TYPES OF ELECTION OBSERVATIONS ARE TAKING PLACE? ARE THEY DOMESTIC OR INTERNATIONAL OBSERVERS? ¶D. (U) IS THERE A DOMESTIC ELECTION COMMISSION? WHAT ARE ITS DUTIES, POWERS, AND LIMITATIONS? WILL OBSERVERS BE IN-COUNTRY DURING THE WEEKS PRIOR TO THE ELECTION, OR WILL THERE BE ELECTION-DAY OBSERVERS ONLY? ¶E. (U) WHAT IS THE GOVERNMENT DOING TO INCREASE VOTER PARTICIPATION? IS THE GOVERNMENT CONCERNED ABOUT BOYCOTTS OR PARTICIPATION LEVELS? ¶F. (U) WHAT ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT ISSUES TO VOTERS? ¶G. (U) HOW FREE AND FAIR DO WE ANTICIPATE THIS ELECTION TO BE IN COMPARISON TO PREVIOUS ELECTIONS? ¶H. (C/NF) IS THERE EVIDENCE OF ELECTORAL FRAUD OR MANIPULATION BY THE GOVERNMENT OR POLITICAL PARTIES? ¶I. (U) PLEASE PROVIDE TECHNICAL DETAILS ON THE BALLOTS, VOTING PROCESS, POLLING STATIONS, AND VOTER ACCESS, ASSISTANCE, OR INTIMIDATION. ¶2. (U) PLEASE CITE C-NE9-00557 IN THE SUBJECT LINE OF REPORTING IN RESPONSE TO THE ABOVE QUESTIONS. CLINTON