Belgian-Moroccan Voters Urged to Participate in May Elections by Moroccan Ambassador

While speaking at a meeting in Brussels, organized at the Moroccan Consulate General, Mohammed Ameur, a Moroccan diplomat, almost ordered: "Last week, Moroccans in Antwerp admitted to me that they prefer to pay a fine rather than go and vote. Because, they told me, it does not concern them and it is not their business. This is a mistake. Choose the party you want but vote." This is the vote that will take place on May 26.

This took place during a meeting with imams and committees running mosques in Belgium.

The ambassador explains in a rather strange way: "If you want to build a Moroccan community, a true community as the term is recognized everywhere, it is through solidarity between its components, wherever they come from and whatever their social or economic conditions. Without the existence of a minimum of solidarity and joint action between these community components, we will not succeed in emerging as a united community capable of progressing in its actions. This is our ambition and I am convinced that if we know how to work, we will succeed."

The Belgian newspaper La Dernière heure is surprised by this change of tone on the part of Moroccan diplomacy: "The former King of Morocco, Hassan II, for example, has repeatedly stated that he was "against the participation of Moroccans in elections in foreign countries," and explained the (his) reasons." So also a break with previous positions on this subject.

Not to mention that Ameur said all this to, among others, imams, generally people whose advice is listened to.

Less than a hundred days before the election, the call of an ambassador from a foreign country inviting his dual nationals to vote is having a hard time passing with many Belgians who are talking about interference from a foreign country in domestic affairs.