Law 53.25: The Era of Tolerance for Electoral Corruption is Over!!!
Osar Ahmed/
It is no exaggeration to say that Morocco is experiencing a pivotal moment in its political reform trajectory. The draft organic law No. 53.25, presented by Minister of Interior Abdelouafi Laftit before the House of Representatives, is not merely a set of technical amendments but a significant step towards rebuilding trust between citizens and politics. It clearly signals that the era of tolerating electoral corruption has ended, and the next parliament must be a clean institution that honors its representatives and serves those who elected it.
This law is designed to sever ties with a phase where unworthy individuals have infiltrated elected bodies, exploiting legal loopholes or political leniency. According to its provisions, individuals facing charges or who have been convicted of crimes impacting electoral eligibility will no longer be allowed to run for office. The door will no longer remain open for those entangled in felonies or mismanagement of public funds. This is a clear slap in the face to anyone who has turned elections into a means for personal gain rather than serving the public good.
Notably, the law does not solely focus on “prohibition and penalty,” but also aims at openness and renewal. It permits competent independents from outside political parties to run for election, provided they secure a specified number of signatures. This bold move restores hope to a broad segment of Moroccans who have lost faith in political parties, reaffirming that competence and credibility are not measured by party affiliation but by an individual’s ability to serve the nation.
Regarding conflicts of interest, the legislator wisely tightened restrictions on state officials holding influential positions, as it is illogical for administrative influence to convert into electoral capital. Extending the ban period and prohibiting candidacy in the same constituency for five years sends a clear message: elections are not an extension of a job, but a test of integrity.
The most significant aspect of this project is its return to the idea of ethical and political responsibility. A representative arrested for more than six months will lose their membership, and anyone submitting an unjustified resignation will be referred to the Constitutional Court to assess their future eligibility. These measures place parliament in front of a real test: to be a house of oversight and legislation, not a refuge from accountability.
This law, with its rigor and clarity, is fundamentally a moral reform before being a legal one. It aims to restore the dignity of politics, eliminate the sources of electoral opportunism, and construct a new bridge between citizens and the institutions that truly represent them.
Today, Morocco sends a strong message both domestically and internationally: there is no longer a place for those who view politics as a means to enrich themselves or evade punishment. You must either be an honest and responsible representative or exit through the wide door of the law.
Law 53.25 is not merely a regulatory text; it represents a national turning point in the pathway to purifying public life. If it is implemented firmly and fairly, it will be recorded as one of the most significant political reforms of the past decade—a reform that restores a noble meaning to Moroccan politics: serving the citizen, not the self.
