Image via WikipediaTransparency International's 2008 Corruption Perceptions Index lists Morocco in 80th place, signifying a fall of eight places since last year. Moroccans remain optimistic about the fight against corruption, but say the problem's root causes still need to be addressed.Morocco has taken a step backward in its fight against corruption, according to recent data from Transparency International. The group's 2008 Corruption Perceptions Index shows Morocco in 80th place out of 180 countries, a drop of eight places over 2007. The scores are the result of six inquiries on the ground, led by independent international agencies.
Rachid Filali Meknassi, Secretary-General of Transparency Maroc, said in a press briefing on Tuesday (September 23rd) that corruption has become systemic. "Morocco's fall in the rankings is due to the failure to effectively apply the reforms announced by the government to fight this phenomenon," he said.
Transparency has expressed its disappointment with the decree to set up the central anti-corruption court, creating a body which is deprived both of institutional autonomy and of any power to investigate or take legal action.
The legal system and the administration are the sectors most affected. The association has called on authorities for "more effort to combat corruption in the country".
Transparency says the measures needed to fight corruption should include a legal component. Protections also need to be included for citizens who report facts concerning offences to the relevant authorities in good faith and on the grounds of reasonable suspicion, under the terms of the United Nations convention on corruption.
According to the Moroccan government, this ranking is not based on an objective analysis of corruption, but on a simple study of perceptions of corruption. The government has said there is a great desire to eradicate this phenomenon, citing the creation of the central anti-corruption court, along with legal measures already put in place such as the passing of laws relating to money-laundering, delegated management and public officials' declaration of assets.
Nevertheless, concrete results are needed for the set objectives to be achieved. A government action plan under discussion since 2006 is intended to improve Morocco’s rating in the index. Objectives include simplified administrative procedures, establishing ethical and moral values and standards, strengthening transparency in the management of public sector tenders, improved monitoring, control and audits, and education on related issues.
MP Lahcen Daoudi told Magharebia that corruption affects all areas, beginning with elections."Corruption is a catastrophe and the government is doing nothing to eradicate it. They must set up barriers against it in legislation," he said.
Meanwhile, fellow MP Fatima Mustaghfir said the fight against corruption is a matter for which the public, the administration and the authorities must all assume responsibility.
"It is important to realise that corruption is due to low wages and also a feeling of injustice. We have to work on those areas," she told Magharebia.
There are many who feel that the state must act on major incidences of corruption, rather than focusing on the smaller cases. IT worker Hamid Zahrani said that to set an example for Moroccans, the government has a duty to clean up the administration and bring the major cases before the courts, so that the public's confidence in the authorities can be restored.
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