Two new Islamist parties challenge the PJD in Morocco
2007-09-02
Influential religious leader Sheikh Abdul-Bari az-Zamzami has chosen to run against the PJD in the September 7th elections. The split represents a challenge to the PJD, although many politicians believe both parties will win seats in the next Parliament.
By Mawassi Lahcen for Magharebia in Casablanca – 02/09/2007
 [Mawassi Lahcen] The PRV has recruited religious figure Sheikh Abdul-Bari az-Zamzami to pull Islamist votes away from the PJD. |
The Party for Justice and Development (PJD) is not the only Islamist party to participate in Morocco's legislative elections. This year sees candidates from the Renaissance and Virtue Party (PRV), a breakaway movement from the PJD, and the Civilized Alternative Party, which only recently acquired the license necessary to engage publicly in political affairs.
The PRV has become a strong competitor to the PJD in certain constituencies, having attracted fundamentalist notables like propagandist Abdul-Bari az-Zamzami, who was nominated for the Casablanca-Anfa constituency, along with several former parliamentarians from the PJD. The PRV has benefited from discontent with PJD candidates in some areas, who have been elected without contest.
The PRV has fielded candidates in 60 of Morocco's 95 electoral constituencies, in addition to nominating a national women's list. According to PRV Secretary-General Muhammad Khaleidi, "We had been set on putting forward candidates in every constituency, but we preferred to confine ourselves to those constituencies in which we have a chance of success, and to focus our resources and capabilities there."
Khaleidi said his party is capable of forming a parliamentary group in the next government. According to the Assembly's internal rules achieving that status, requires no fewer than 20 elected members.
Abdul-Bari az-Zamzami is considered one of the most prominent clerics in Casablanca. He served as Friday imam and khatib at the Waled al-Hamra mosque in Casablanca from 1976 until his detention by Moroccan authorities in 2001. Az-Zamzami supported the PJD in the 2002 elections, and many credit him with the PJD winning two seats in the Anfa constituency.
He is expected to receive the support of Anfa's voters, especially since the PJD have not put forth their own candidate in that district. The PJD created resentment in the area by choosing instead to back their ally, Citizens’ Forces Party leader Abderrahim Al Hajouji.
The Civilized Alternative Party has put forward candidates in just 37 constituencies. Party leader Mustapha al-Muatassim told Magharebia, "We lined up candidates for 51 constituencies, but we were inexperienced and made some mistakes in preparing the candidates' dossiers, and this caused the Interior Ministry to invalidate the lists we had presented for 14 constituencies. On top of this, our national women’s list was not accepted as we were late in submitting it. This has greatly diminished our chances, in addition to the weakness of our resources in comparison to the rest of the parties taking part."
PJD Secretary-General Saad al-Din al-Othmani told Magharebia the election results will confirm that PRV's breaking away has not impacted his party's chances gain parliamentary representation. Al-Othmani intends for his party to win one million votes and 70 seats in Parliament.
Nasr al-Sharaibi, President of the Modernity and Democracy Association also played down the effect of the PRV's breakaway from the PJD. "I do not believe it will have much of an effect because the split happened at a late stage," he told Magharebia. Al-Sharaibi said because of its tight organisation and considerable resources, the PJD has little to fear in the elections. He said there are very few parties which can expect to obtain 20% of the seats in the coming elections.
Mailoud Belqadi, a political science professor and researcher in Rabat told Magharebia that despite competition from two new parties the PJD will be a constant in the political equation in Morocco. "The approved format of the ballot, the expected participation percentage and the large number of parties taking part make it difficult for any party to obtain 50 of the 325 seats," he said. I can say, however, that the PJD is capable of achieving this."
Nonetheless, Belqadi said it is unlikely the Islamists will sweep the elections."The government will be formed from a coalition of parties," he said. "As for the participating Islamist parties, I don’t believe their share will be more than 60 seats in total, and this will not give them the majority necessary to form the government. Therefore I think that if the three Islamist parties are able to make it to parliament, they will remain in the opposition."
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سعيد من تارودانت Posted 2007-09-02
In the name of God. I’m one of the Moroccan young people who love and belong to the PJD, the party whose acts we don’t deny in it was in the positive opposition. And for the first time in my life I feel ashamed of myself when I see that there is a dispute and conflict between the Islamic parties in Morocco. This conflict will contribute to giving opportunities to the side who bet on corrupting the people and country and draw it to the dump. Finally, I hope that we will put aside personal disputes and start a new page against the corrupt people who sold the land and sea of Morocco. Salam alaikoum.
ابن الصلاح المغربي Posted 2007-09-03
I was frustrated when I heard what Cheikh Zamzami had said about the PJD. The Cheikh may have personal ambitions, but to that low and humiliating point? To tell the truth, I agreed with the PJD when the party didn’t recommend the Cheikh, as in my opinion, he will be of no use if he enters the parliament... namely because his statements show that he doesn’t have deep insight and has no understanding of the essence of the reality. I’ll personally vote for Lahjouji who is allied with the PJD, because he’s not corrupt, with high morals and nationalist. Moreover, he’s a businessman, so if all these features are present in one person, so he’s much better than a Fqih. I call upon the Cheikh to reconsider himself and he’ll find out that what I said is right. you can ask for the advice of your colleagues. Secondly, you’re unhappy with the party because they’ve stopped publishing your articles, this is their right as you weren’t a member of the party. You had no idea of the endurances of your brothers in this hard period when all the Islamic action was threatened after the sad events of May 16th. And how can such a nationwide organization bear the exit of one person? The Cheikh should have understood all that and played a role where he would be more productive. As to your statement of moving from the small to the big mosque, you’re wrong, this shows that you make of the parliament institution, how long will you have the floor in parliament, 3 minutes? And when will your turn come to ask one question- specifically, if the party you belong to could hardly hope winning a team? I ask you about the party you are representing, don’t you know that it’s the party of people with personal ambitions and who are not interested in the democratic process? Sorry Cheikh, I’ll not give you my vote. I ask everyone in the district of Anfa to vote for the PJD and Citizenship party.
Milliss Posted 2007-09-04
I do not beleive that religious representation in the parliament will reflect a future Moroccan Democratic model. The mere face of religion in politics might lead to possible erosion of human freedoms. In a country where people put their faith in religious governance as a secure alternative to political cultural diversity, I am afraid Morocco is opening a nasty can of worms. All the extremists religious fanatics will find it easier to poison the environment with their endless messages of rejection of everything western. Those people at the helm of religious political movements will sabotage any attempts at building the Morocco of tomorrow we are all yearning for.
Noureddine Posted 2007-09-06
I don't agree with you Millis because first this parliament has no power or influence on Moroccan politics. second, Moroccan parliament is not the first or only one where religion is present: Turkey, Pakistan, Israel, and even the USA and European coutries.
أبو إلياس Posted 2007-09-09
In the name of God, salam alaikoum. I hope that the decision of entering the elections by Abdelbari Zamzami, after he founded the Party of Renaissance and Virtue, and after breaking away from the PJD, and who was our cheikh yesterday, into the elections just for challenge, and to show his strength and the faithfulness of his supporters. This was clear from the decision of the PJD not to be represented in the constituency of Anfa as they’re aware, in my opinion, that their chances will be very weak in front of Zamzami. I also wish success to the cheikh in his new political career and that he doesn’t disappoint us in his turn after the five-year mandate. I hope that the cheikh will amaze us under the dome of the parliament with his positions, resistance and ideas which always amazed us in Al Hamra mosque and many conferences and religious seminars. We highly trust this political and scholar parliamentarian who has always been a strong and distinguished analyst of the political and social situation in our country from above the tribunes, and we don’t think that he will be inferior to the political elite in different political parties without mentioning the sleeping group. May God assist you. Our hearts and prayers are with you. And God assist you in your aim. Abou Ilyas son of the city, a lover for the sake of God.
zarioh Posted 2007-09-09
In the name of God, I thank all the citizens who contributed with their votes and I also thank the PJD party which who brought us great results 47 seats. I ask them not disappoint us in the coming years. I have a question which I want you please to answer: Do you have information about Hassan Anjar? Why did he leave the PJD in the city of Nador?
luisiano Posted 2007-09-12
Religion won’t bring any good to Moroccans as long as they aren’t true Muslims. If we count the number of cafés, nightclubs and bars in comparison to mosques, and we count the visitors, the difference is important. And if we count the conservative and debauchee women; we count religious scholars, gamblers and ribald; if we count….Where’s the position of Islam amidst all this? And those who ride religion for his aims, it deserts him. ‘Those who want life, we give them their share of it’. Or do we want a government which will be banned and we’ll be called the new State of terrorism.
Hamid Posted 2007-09-17
God is Great, even the ignorant become parliamentarians in Morocco, a shame! In my opinoion, people who can't write or read should leave their places for the competency but not the resources, I mean by resources: Money.
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