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The bulk of the preparation had, of course, proceeded under the supervision of the Ministry of the Interior, whose officials are barred from party activity and probably generally disinterested in party politics.

Apart from some areas of recurring trouble, like Bani Mellal, where inexperienced officials had been appointed, there is little evidence that local officials intervened in the electoral process.

Centrally, however, the administrative problem was more complex and the sheer prestige of office was very likely an unfair advantage.

The King decided to remove Ibrahim a week before elections and to institute a non-party Council of Government under his personal direction.

Although the monarch had frequently asserted that the elections were to be without party significance, his action was an implicit admission that party identifications were a factor.

The new Council was itself inescapably of political meaning, which was most clearly revealed in the absence of any U.N.F.P. members and the presence of several Istiqlal leaders.

Since the details of the elections were settled the change of government had no direct effect on the technical aspects of the elections, and may have been more important as an indication of royal displeasure with the U.N.F.P.