Moroccan Islamists Win Parliamentary Election

The Moroccan Parliament building in Rabat. Source: Wikimedia Commons.

Morocco’s ruling Islamist Justice and Development Party (PJD) bested its opponent, the liberal Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM), in the October 7 parliamentary election, as over 30 parties vied for seats. The PJD claimed 125 seats (31.7 percent of the vote) in the 395-member Chamber of Representatives; PAM won 102 seats (25.8 percent), and the conservative Istiqlal party took 45 seats (11.7 percent).

The PJDl, which draws its support from urban areas, as opposed to the PAM’s rural base, came to power in 2011, following massive Arab Spring protests that led to a new constitution with a stronger parliament. It implemented an austerity program and cut public-sector jobs and subsidies, a move which sparked a backlash from beneficiaries of these programs. Unemployment, poverty, illiteracy, drought, and corruption all remain serious concerns for the country; healthcare and education are also on the forefront of citizens’ minds.

The PJD’s electoral victory comes despite some recent tribulations for the party since its successes in 2015 municipal elections. Several members have been accused of misconduct and crime, and hundreds protested in Casablanca on September 18 against the perceived “Islamisation of society." Moreover, with voter turnout at just 43 percent, the election reflected a profound apathy in the Moroccan political sphere. Similarly, just 45 percent of registered voters participated in the 2011 election. Out of a population of 33.6 million, only 15.7 million (46.7 percent) are registered to vote, while about 5 million are eligible but unregistered. “We don’t trust the parties; they just talk and do nothing,” lamented one non-voting couple in Casablanca.

This perception of ineffective, unresponsive parties has fueled the rise of new politicians, such as Nabila Mounib. As the established Socialist Union of Popular Forces Party (USFP) has declined, receiving just 20 seats and 5.1 percent  of the vote, new far-left parties, such as Mounib’s Democratic Left Federation (FGD), have stepped into the Moroccan political arena.

Moreover, enduring regional security concerns have featured in the election. The Interior Ministry announced on October 4 that it had arrested a 10-woman ISIS cell planning a suicide bombing attack on the election.