Moroccan authorities have implemented stringent measures limiting political intermediaries’ influence in local elections, targeting irregularities in association subsidies and temporary worker contracts managed by municipalities, according to daily newspaper Assabah.
The measures aim to break monopolies certain elected officials previously held over decisions regarding association subsidy allocation and temporary worker contract renewals within local authorities. In several municipalities facing high numbers of temporary workers, governors’ correspondence has raised alarms about irregularities in contract management, including suspected employment for electoral purposes and distribution of activation cards to thousands of “phantom workers” violating regulations governing this workforce category.
Interior Ministry circulars emphasize breaking continuity cycles in engagement notification issuance to prevent acquired rights under labor law from becoming unsustainable burdens for local authorities. Several elected officials now face potential revocation for conflicts of interest in association subsidy distribution. Supervisory authorities have refused validating support files for associations led by front presidents used by councilors or vice-presidents for electoral purposes.
Administrative investigations revealed significant disorder in municipal services responsible for distributing allowances to temporary workers, alongside systematic absence of detailed reports specifying distributed amounts and exact mission descriptions. Hundreds of local, regional, and provincial councils received rejection decisions concerning suspicious benefits, with lists including associations close to officials, whether in management or opposition, involved in secret mediation networks organizing premature electoral campaigns.
The Interior Ministry accelerated measures ending municipal budget misappropriation officially designated for association support. Recent directives to governors and administrators specify budget preparation and management procedures for local authorities, particularly those facing deficits. Supplementary subsidies and those linked to cultural, sports, or artistic activities now fall under direct governor and administrator supervision, who possess increased control powers.
Despite these efforts, abuses persist, prompting the ministry to remind provincial and prefecture officials of exact aid values attributed to each territory while detailing procedures transferring distribution power from elected officials to governors and administrators, ensuring public budgets serve collective missions rather than electoral interests.
