Moroccan elections

A small USFP (Union Socialiste des Forces Populaires) rally. Their symbol is the rose.

Today registered voters across the country participate in communal or local elections. At stake are local bureaucratic positions, with a term of 6 years. As a result, the Medina is teeming with party “militants,” supporters of every age who go door to door handing out fliers, carrying posters and causing copious traffic jams.

Despite this show of force, Moroccan political parties face a formidable challenge in mobilizing voters. The political system is extremely fragmented, with more than thirty parties. Multi-party elections have a brief history in the country. If the last election is any indication most Moroccans have little interest in the polls.

In 2007, legislative elections drew only thirty-eight percent of registered voters . Of those who voted, nearly a fifth left their ballots blank. This low turnout was an unexpected conclusion to the extensive ‘get out the vote‘ campaigns by local parties and voter education drives organized by the Ministry of the Interior, who oversees the elections.

In a country with high illiteracy, party symbols take on increased importance.Some of the significant parties advertising on this wall include: PAM (the blue tractor), PJD ( the black lantern), and Istiqlal (the scale).

Every election has its controversy. This year, the political party PAM (Parti d’Authenticite et Modernite) has been the centre of attention. The party, recently formed by a friend of the King, Fouad Ali El Himma, has been building its base by recruiting prominent members of the other parties. Many Moroccans believe PAM to be unstoppable because of El Himma’s connections to the monarchy and his assumed ability to gather information. The party hit its first obstacle two weeks ago when the Interior Ministry decided to enforce Article 5 of the Electoral Code, which prohibits parliamentarians from switching parties except during elections. Because legislative elections will not be held again until 2012, prominent legislators are now prohibited from defecting to PAM in order to strengthen the party’s chances at the local level. Many parties complained that the Interior Ministry’s hesitation to enforce the code was due to El Himma’s relationship with the monarchy. In response, PAM joined the opposition.

Some fear PAM’s connections and extensive political network combined with its recent origins and consequently lack of political baggage will assure its victory today. Others believe the Islamic party PJD will triumph on their platform of honesty. Either way, the elections are likely to mark a significant shift in the political life of Morocco.


Tags: Moroccan Morocco Fes, Maghreb news