Conservatives squeak out narrow victory in Morocco

By Michael J.W. Stickings

From the G&M (Reuters): "Morocco's conservative Istiqlal party won the most seats in parliamentary elections, allowing it to form the next government with its current ruling coalition allies, final results released on Monday showed. Istiqlal (Independence), a ruling coalition member, won 52 seats, ahead of the opposition Islamist Justice and Development party (PJD) with 46 seats, the Interior Ministry said. The final figures showed a record-low turnout of 37 per cent, an apparent snub of a political system whose leaders are widely seen as aloof and out of touch."

-- For more on the elections, see here. For more on Morocco's interesting political-electoral system, see here.

-- Istiqlal (interestingly enough, given its nationalist and pro-monarchy tendencies) is a member of Centrist Democrat International, formerly Christian Democrat International.

-- Morocco's main Islamist party, the PJD, isn't quite as extreme as Islamist parties elsewhere.

-- Although voters may have stayed home in protest against "aloof and out of touch" leaders, one wonders if they'd prefer non-aloof and oppressive leaders. Be careful what you wish for.

-- This election marked the first time a Jewish woman was a candidate for the Moroccan parliament: Maguy Kakon of the (minor) Social Centre Party.

-- A liberal party (Popular Movement, a member of Liberal International) finished a very respectable third, gaining 16 seats. A leftist party (Socialist Union of Popular Forces) finished fifth, another liberal (and pro-monarchy) party (Constitutional Union) sixth.

-- It must be remembered that Morocco is effectively a monarchy. Its democracy isn't a sham or a farce, but King Mohammed VI is in control.