Morocco Election Scandal: 23 Mayors Face Dismissal Over Financial Misconduct

Damning reports for 23 municipal presidents, the majority of whom are affiliated with the PJD. Following audits carried out by the General Inspectorate of Territorial Administration and that of the Ministry of Economy and Finance, it was revealed that the officials of certain municipalities have committed serious financial and administrative violations, reports Al Akhbar. The reports also mention dysfunctions. These include the validation of financial documents by elected officials who do not have a signature delegation, the illegal exemption from taxes on undeveloped land and the non-recovery of local taxes, as well as rents of stores and housing belonging to the municipality.

The inspection commissions noted the same violations in the management of public contracts by the exclusion of bidders without legal or technical reasons, or by awarding contracts to companies whose technical and professional capacities do not meet the required standards. Violations have also been found in the field of urban planning: the issuance of individual building permits without presenting the files to the provincial urban planning commission and without obtaining the opinion of the urban agency.

Based on these violations and dysfunctions, the Ministry of the Interior has taken measures against the offenders, which are divided into three categories. Regarding the dysfunctions that do not impact the municipality’s budget and the services offered to citizens, the inspection commissions recommend that the officials concerned correct them and regularize the irregular situations. As for the cases that affect the areas of finance and accounting, they are referred to the financial courts. A list of 23 municipal presidents has been established. Walis and governors are also responsible for transmitting certain files to the administrative courts.

The third category concerns the serious violations committed by the municipal presidents and the elected officials who are subject to Article 64 of the organic law relating to municipalities. The municipal officials who are found responsible for these violations will either be dismissed or brought before the competent judicial authorities.