"The Platform" suspends fuel price petition; Ministry cites ongoing technical adjustments

Hespress reports on a significant hurdle facing a citizens' initiative in Morocco aimed at capping fuel prices and introducing a "moving tax." The "Citizens' Initiative to Cap Fuel Prices" has announced that its online petition is currently suspended because the official e-participation platform (eparticipation.ma) has not yet activated the signature collection phase. Organizers decry this as an "unjustified obstruction" of a constitutional right, suggesting a deliberate attempt to stifle public engagement.

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The petition is currently suspended due to the failure to activate the signature collection phase on the official citizen participation platform, which we consider an unjustified obstruction of the spirit of the constitution.

In response, a source from the ministry overseeing the platform, which is responsible for citizen participation, explained that technical modifications are being implemented. These updates are intended to enhance the platform's development, ensure service continuity, and maintain security and reliability standards. The ministry insists that these technical adjustments do not infringe upon the constitutional right to submit petitions, emphasizing that the platform remains a tool for exercising this right.

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Technical modifications are currently being made to the platform... these modifications do not in any way affect the constitutional right to submit petitions.

However, the initiative's coordinators express frustration, referring to the platform's malfunction as a "preventive defect." They highlight the difficulty in sharing the petition link for electronic signatures and are considering logistical alternatives, including paper-based signature collection, should the electronic issues persist. They also plan to engage constitutional bodies, such as the Ombudsman of the Kingdom, to intervene with government authorities to resolve the technical problems affecting not only their petition but potentially others as well.

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The e-participation platform is currently malfunctioning, making it impossible to share the link for electronic signatures on the petition.

Despite the technical challenges, the organizers remain committed to the electronic petition, viewing it as a crucial tool for advocacy. They acknowledge the possibility of resorting to paper signatures, with regional and local coordinators prepared to gather support on the ground. This situation underscores the tension between the government's stated commitment to citizen participation and the practical challenges faced by grassroots movements in utilizing digital platforms for civic action in Morocco.

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The government created this tool (the petition portal) for advocacy, but when we put it to a serious test during the implementation phase, we find that the same entity has obstructed the petition.