07/11/2011 Election observation
Strasbourg, 07.11.2011 – A delegation from the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) will travel to Rabat for a pre-electoral visit from 9 to 12 November 2011 ahead of its observations of the parliamentary elections in Morocco on 25 November.
The delegation, led by Tomáš Jirsa (Czech Republic, EDG), will meet the Speakers of the Assembly of Representatives and the Assembly of Councillors, the chairs of the parliamentary groups, the Secretary of State at the Ministry of the Interior in charge of election administration, the President of the National Human Rights Council and representatives of civil society, the media and political parties not represented in parliament.
On 25 November, a delegation of 20 members will be deployed throughout the country to observe the voting in polling stations.
Members of the delegation:
Tomáš Jirsa (Czech Republic, EDG), Head of the delegation
Francine John-Calame (Switzerland, SOC)
Margus Hanson (Estonia, ALDE)
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The Parliamentary Assembly comprises 318 members of parliament from the 47 Council of Europe member states. It has observed over 140 elections throughout Europe since 1989.
On 21 June this year, PACE granted Partner for Democracy status to the Moroccan Parliament as part of the move to establish institutional co-operation with the parliaments of non-member states in neighbouring regions.
The Council of Europe, which was founded in 1949 to support democracy, human rights and the rule of law, is distinct from the European Union.
Contact:
Chemavon Chahbazian, Interparliamentary Co-operation and Election Observation Unit, mobile: +33 (0)6 50 39 29 40