Survey: Moroccan Lawmakers and Ministers Perceived as Most Corrupt Officials

In Morocco, corruption is rampant among senior officials. This is a stinging rebuke that the "Afrobarometer" Institute’s report has just delivered to the usual rhetoric served by the Head of Government on the fight against the phenomenon. According to Saâdeddine El Othmani, indeed, the many efforts made by the Government to put an end to corruption have allowed Morocco to gain points in the indices of the fight against corruption.

This little truth of the Prime Minister is quickly refuted by the report of the African Institute "Afrobarometer". The survey lays bare the reality and reveals that a third of Moroccans have given bribes during the last twelve months, to benefit from public services in education and health. At the level of the health sector, the Minister in charge has promised to stem this scourge by sticking up posters and photos to raise awareness.

The same report indicates that the figures displayed by "Afrobarometer" are not favorable to the Government. According to it, 53% of Moroccans believe that corruption has increased over the past twelve months, compared to only 12% who think it has decreased. Worse, 75% believe that this Government does not have the adequate means to curb this scourge in its progression towards other ministerial sectors. Conversely, 13% think that efforts are being made to mitigate the negative impact of the scourge on the economic fabric, the same report specifies.

49% of Moroccans, according to the daily Al Massae, report that they are ready to support this fight against corruption by opposing corrupt officials and denouncing them in public services such as health and education. In addition, the report accuses parliamentarians as being the most corrupt in the Kingdom. Behind them are ministers and other government officials. The list is not exhaustive: parliamentarians (41%), ministers (39%), local officials (38%), other government officials (37%), magistrates (26%), police (24%) and religious (11%).