Service of Magharebia
By: Abdelaziz Karraky

Elections are an indispensable prerequisite for democracy, because they permit competition for the transfer of power and abolish individual claims over power, ensuring that it is shared. And because they institute the concept of a political contract between rulers and citizens. Hence emerges the importance of searching for mechanisms that can secure sound democracy, allowing all nations of the region to live in peace and security.
What differentiates the political scene in the region, regardless of the various political regimes, is the fact that they highlight the value and necessity of elections so as to guarantee legitimacy. That in turn evolves into a steadfast belief among societies. Therefore, it is no longer acceptable to rely on force to gain or maintain authority. This can perhaps be used to reinforce democracy, whereby nations become the real source of authority, and also to enhance the values of freedom and equality, without which we cannot discuss pluralism as a concomitant requirement for democracy. It is not enough to stipulate these principles. Including these principles in laws and constitutions should not be seen as an objective without following up with supporting practices. In fact, there should be a shift in the pattern of values, so that individuals would be able to embrace democratic values during their upbringing, and such values would become part of their identity. As such, the problem of accepting differences and the nightmare of distancing the Other would be definitely solved for good.
Enhancing democracy in this part of the world means many reforms, whether on the political level in order to uphold the rule of law, or on the level of recognizing human rights, the way they are acknowledged worldwide. Moreover, we need to proceed past the stage of acknowledgment to the active level by joining and ratifying the various international human rights agreements and accepting all monitoring mechanisms stipulated by the said agreements. We cannot discuss human rights without activating the role of civil society so it would be able to play its role in full by involving it in the decision making process, recognising it as an essential partner with key political players.
If we examine the growth rates in the region throughout 2008, excluding Tunisia, which managed to achieve 6.3%, we realize that Algeria, despite the oil leap, barely reached 3.1%. Morocco achieved 2.3%. As for Mauritania, the rate is the lowest, a slim 1.9%, which makes the political path in need for support by a social path that would fight poverty, eliminate vulnerability, not through charity work alone, which views individuals as incapable of controlling their only destiny and effecting the change themselves, but through participatory approach that allows individuals to start income-generating activities, which integrate them in the matrix of making the wealth in countries. That might be the right path to reinforce political democracy and protect societies from extremism.
Your Comments
commentsIBALINE EL HACHMI About over 2 years ago
Considering the average growth rate of 3.4% in the region, we deduct that we still need to deploy multiple efforts in order to put us on the path of a real development. It’s true that in the past, certain obstacles – including those coming from elsewhere – had hampered us for a long time. And to bring us together and counterbalance us to use our rights as we acquired them – by huge sacrifices – we no longer mention the past but to take from it tools needed to strengthen democracy, and to protect our societies from excesses. However, this cannot be achieved but when each society benefits from its constitutional rights to the maximum, and when each one of them assumes its responsibilities. In Morocco, where a reconciliation with the misdeeds of the past is already mostly materialized, all citizens are getting ready to be part of action, especially after a long meditation on the turnout of the latest elections of September 2007, which did not exceed 37%, and on the constitutional implications thereof on both legislative and executive power levels. Since then, and under the patronage of His Majesty, a good number of sites had been launched, the civil society has been stimulated, and the National Initiative for Human Development had already been put in action in favor of areas most affected by consecutive drought years. And recently, the Minister of Interior has been seriously committed to continue its fight against various forms of corruption that distort elections, and damage socio-economic development that would follow. What remains now, is to see voters on June 22 – the elections’ day – visit the polls, in bulk this time, as they had committed before the closure of electoral rolls. Contact between future candidates and political parties on one hand, and voters on the other hand, is already underway. A calm atmosphere, without corruption or any other form of influence, is desirable for a proper and transparent implementation of this task. That will help raise the standard of living of citizens, among which only 48% are active – according to the HCP – and to increase the income of the middle class which is still below the national median. There is also the fight against unemployment, which affects 8.2% of the whole middle class comprising 53% of the total population, according to the same source. Unemployment is on the agenda of all development plans, including the Green Morocco Plan which is already funded to run in the short, medium and long term, from now until 2030. Therefore, it is up to individuals, to whom this opportunity is presented, not to revise it but after more than 1500 days. It is up to individuals to organize themselves, as all authorities are unified to offer help, in order to give the country a more illuminated reputation by a high turnout, which would reflect their true stability and their concern to see more investors and more visitors in the country. It is also their responsibility to make justice more efficient and impartial, and this can happen only with the help of a High Commission that would able to create laws to face social constraints, and to convince, then, the executive power which is still as it was since it was issued from the famous 37% turnout. This Commission would surely play its role if it was supported by a large mass of voters that would always constitute its base. It would fulfill its duties even better, when electors and local elected officials that will be issued from June’ elections will be of a better quality. Let’s also hope to see our political parties become persuasive communicators, in order to recover the trust of individuals, and work on controlling illegal influences such as power abuse, and all other forms of corruption. Because if these occur yet once, forgiveness and reconciliation will no longer be appropriate, as we live a time where everything is put into action for the good of our beloved country, Morocco, and our beloved Maghreb, which must be unified against all excesses, and recover peace.
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Anonymous About 4 months ago
The Algerian government has indeed improved significantly, as it has opened up to all kinds of investments, whether they are already achieved or being implemented. This positive aspect shows the Algerian position compared to its close neighbors, Morocco, Mauritania, Tunisia and soon, Libya. This is an encouraging fact that should be noted. Let’s be optimistic about the future of our region, the GREAT MAGHREB.
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Anonymous About 2 months ago
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