Zawaya

Concrete steps towards healthy democracy

By: Nadia Ait Zai

What can be done to guarantee a healthy democratic process during elections in the Maghreb?

The term “healthy” implies that the Maghreb states, which have been engaged in a democratic process for a few years now, must act in complete transparency in sight of the registered parties and electors when preparing for elections, and they must ensure they are run properly.

What can be done to achieve this?

In the preparatory stages:

The administration must exhibit neutrality in organising elections. Its mission is to serve the public interest, making resources available to the candidates regardless of their political stance, without favouritism, without leaning towards one candidate or another.

Renew electoral rolls every year.

Allow candidates to run their electoral campaigns without any hindrance or obstacles.

Allow equal access to mass media.

Allow equal access to electoral funding.

Ensure transparency in the counting process.

Use glass ballot boxes.

Appoint polling station officers who belong neither to the organising administration nor to political parties, to ensure there is complete neutrality.

In the counting process:

Allow representatives of the political parties who have attended the count and the declaration of votes to accompany the ballot boxes and voting papers as they are taken to the central point for the final deciding count.

For political parties:

Set out a serious, attractive, modernising manifesto.

Put forward active and credible candidates who are likely to interest voters (both men and women).

Honour commitments and maintain high moral standards.

Avoid hollow talk and remain close to the population.