Vote Compass launched in Morocco

RNW, 31 October 2011, by Peter Hooghiemstra              

 (illustration: Victor Ndula/Cartoon Movement)

  

Radio Netherlands Worldwide and the Free University of Amsterdam launched the online Vote Compass for Morocco on Monday. This is an independent tool which helps voters determine which party most closely reflects their own political opinions. Voters can choose an Arabic or a French language version of the Vote Compass at www.bosala.nl.

Parliamentary elections are being held in Morocco on 25 November. Afterwards, the king will transfer his position as head of government to the new prime minister. He will continue as head of state.

The Vote Compass is a sensitive topic in Morocco’s developing democracy, particularly since the government in Rabat has introduced legislation which makes all polls illegal in the two weeks preceding the election.

Fears

RNW’s editor-in-chief Rik Rensen comments:

“Even though the Vote Compass is not a poll, the media organisations we’re working with in Morocco in the pre-election period are not prepared to have their names linked with our project. They are afraid they might be accused of breaking the law.”

André Krouwel, scientific director of the Vote Compass and political scientist at the Free University, adds:

“In our work we’ve noted that the democratic changes in Morocco are more cosmetic than fundamental in nature. Political parties are very wary and have adopted uncontroversial viewpoints. They are aware of the boundaries of political freedom in Morocco, which are based on the fear of disagreement. Disagreement should, of course, be the very essence of elections.”

Impartial

It is hoped the Vote Compass will stimulate the degree of involvement of Moroccan voters and support them in their personal assessment of the political landscape. The questions and the viewpoints it uses were compiled with the assistance of Moroccan political scientists on the basis of official documents and the stated positions of the political parties or statements made by their leaders.

The Vote Compass has no links with any party, candidate or government body. The online application is designed to preserve strict impartiality and is completely transparent. Originally a Dutch invention, the Vote Compass is now been used in 34 countries, including Turkey, Canada and - most recently - Tunisia.

(imm)

Read more: 

• http://www.rnw.nl/english/bulletin/vote-compass-introduced-tunisia 
• http://www.rnw.nl/english/article/dutch-vote-compass-help-out-egypt