Changes in parliamentary elite spark debate in Morocco

01/10/2007

A number of influential Moroccan politicians were not re-elected to Parliament on September 7th. The resulting shift in the power structure of the legislature has raised questions about the body's ability to perform its duties effectively under a new mandate.

By Sarah Touahri for Magharebia in Rabat – 01/10/2007

[Sarah Touahri] Several influential Members of Parliament lost their seats

The poor performance of many major players in Morocco's September 7th elections has sparked a lively debate over the ability of the legislature to carry out its intended role. Several Members of Parliament with key roles in legislating and overseeing government activity failed to retain their seats, including Abdelhamid Aouad, Driss Lachguer and Abdelkebir Tabnih.

Lahcen Daoudi, a Member of Parliament and the political office of the Justice and Development Party, told Magharebia that the loss of a number of former members representing parties such as Istiqlal and the USFP is hampering the legislature's activity. "Using dirty money, a number of incompetent candidates have managed to win seats in Parliament. This problem will surface in the committees which review and consider laws," he said. He also predicts there will be no opposition aside from the PJD that is capable of generating enough support to push its proposals through, and that parties will have difficulty in appointing committee heads.

Tajeddine el-Husseini, a professor of law at Mohammed V University in Rabat, disagrees. He told Magharebia the departures of the political heavyweights may give the newcomers hope and increased latitude in doing their jobs. He said the outgoing members, who had been on the political scene for a long time, used to hold a monopoly over Parliament's activities by presiding over all its groups, committees and sessions. "I think the Moroccan public will feel happier to see new members of Parliament who are perhaps more knowledgeable about science and culture, and who are more in touch with the day-to-day worries of ordinary Moroccans. The number of graduates in Parliament is rising even though the old school still maintains a presence," he concluded.

MP Mohamed Moubddi agrees with el-Husseini's position, and said the reconstitution of the parliamentary elite is no bar to progress, as some observers maintain, but will in fact usher in a new era for a Parliament still suffering from accusations of stagnancy. He explained that the work of Parliament relies on collective effort: "Members don't work in isolation. Behind them there is a whole team, within both their parliamentary groups and their parties."

Fatima Mustaghfir, an MP representing the Popular Movement, said voters renewed their faith in people who work at the community level, and that in order to stimulate activity in Parliament, the members who retained their seats need to train those newly elected. "Above all, everyone needs to understand the role of Parliament so that they can do a good job, namely legislating and monitoring the government's work."

Mustaghfir added that the problem lies not with members of Parliament but with the legislature itself, which needs to be brought up to standard to give more strength to private bills.