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On Wednesday, Morocco’s Minister of the Interior sought to clarify Article 2 of Organic Law No. 04.21, which amends and supplements Organic Law No. 27.11 on the House of Representatives. The text, recently approved by the Akhannouch government, has sparked widespread debate.
The article introduces prison sentences of two to five years and fines ranging from 50,000 to 100,000 dirhams for anyone who «publishes, disseminates, transmits, or distributes by any means rumors or false information aimed at casting doubt on the credibility and transparency of elections».
Addressing the Committee on the Interior, Local Authorities, Housing, and Urban Policy, Abdelouafi Laftit stressed that the provision was not meant to silence critics of the 2026 legislative elections. He said the measure «in no way infringes on freedom of opinion or expression» but seeks «to strengthen the national democratic process and ensure the transparency of the vote».
Critics argue it stifles democratic dissent
The minister argued that protecting public debate from disinformation is essential to maintaining citizens’ trust in the electoral process and preserving the credibility of representative institutions. He described the penalties as «deterrent measures» to safeguard elections from digital disinformation campaigns that could undermine their legitimacy, noting the «vast capabilities of artificial intelligence to create fake images, documents, and statements that spread rapidly and are difficult to verify».
Laftit emphasized that the second paragraph of Article 2 was written «precisely and unambiguously», targeting only «the deliberate spread of rumors and false information through digital means» and not public criticism or dissent.
Still, the article has drawn sharp criticism from across the political spectrum. PJD Secretary-General Abdelilah Benkirane called for its withdrawal, declaring, «The Ministry of the Interior cannot forbid us from doubting election results. This is not democracy. Silencing people in this way has no place in the Kingdom of Mohammed VI».
Abdeslam El Aziz, Secretary-General of the Left Federation, echoed this demand, urging the government to drop the controversial clause altogether.
