Moroccan parliamentary election, 2007
Encyclopedia
Parliamentary elections were held in Morocco
on 7 September 2007, the second of King Mohammed VI's reign. Voter turnout was estimated to be 37%, the lowest in Moroccan political history. There were 33 different parties
and 13 independent candidates
competing for 325 assembly seats. An amount of $61 million was allocated by the Moroccan government to organize the 2007 elections.
The number of constituencies was increased from 91 to 95 before this election. Interior minister Chakib Benmoussa
claimed the changes were made "in accordance with objectivity and transparency." However, BBC correspondent Richard Hamilton accused the government of gerrymandering
in order to prevent the Justice and Development Party
from winning. Professor Malika Zeghal
of Harvard University
agrees.
According to many analysts the complex voting system makes it almost impossible for any group to win an outright majority, although others have disagreed with this view, arguing that the electoral system is not particularly unusual and should favor large parties.http://www.carnegieendowment.org/files/resende-apr2008.pdf. Whatever the outcome, real power will remain with the king, who is executive head of state, military chief and religious leader.
For the first time in the history of elections in Morocco, they are being monitored by foreign observers including the U.S.'s National Democratic Institute for International Affairs
and 42 others.
Turnout in the election was only 37% - the lowest in the history of Moroccan national elections. The Socialist Union of People's Forces (USFP), the largest party in the outgoing government lost nearly a quarter of its seats, and was replaced as the largest party by its coalition partner, the Istiqlal Party
. The main gainers were the pro-government liberal People's Movement and Constitutional Union parties. The opposition Islamist Justice and Development Party
had a modest increase in its tally as did the pro-government leftist Party of Progress and Socialism
.
Following the election the USFP was expected to leave the governing coalition. Istiqlal Party leader Abbas El Fassi
became PM on 19 September 2007.
Morocco
Morocco , officially the Kingdom of Morocco , is a country located in North Africa. It has a population of more than 32 million and an area of 710,850 km², and also primarily administers the disputed region of the Western Sahara...
on 7 September 2007, the second of King Mohammed VI's reign. Voter turnout was estimated to be 37%, the lowest in Moroccan political history. There were 33 different parties
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
and 13 independent candidates
Independent (politician)
In politics, an independent or non-party politician is an individual not affiliated to any political party. Independents may hold a centrist viewpoint between those of major political parties, a viewpoint more extreme than any major party, or they may have a viewpoint based on issues that they do...
competing for 325 assembly seats. An amount of $61 million was allocated by the Moroccan government to organize the 2007 elections.
The number of constituencies was increased from 91 to 95 before this election. Interior minister Chakib Benmoussa
Chakib Benmoussa
Chakib Benmoussa is a former Interior Minister of Morocco and the lead negotiator for the Moroccan side in the Western Sahara conflict.-Education:Benmoussa was born in Fes...
claimed the changes were made "in accordance with objectivity and transparency." However, BBC correspondent Richard Hamilton accused the government of gerrymandering
Gerrymandering
In the process of setting electoral districts, gerrymandering is a practice that attempts to establish a political advantage for a particular party or group by manipulating geographic boundaries to create partisan, incumbent-protected districts...
in order to prevent the Justice and Development Party
Justice and Development Party (Morocco)
The Justice and Development Party is the largest opposition political party in Morocco. The PJD advocates Islamism and Islamic democracy.-History:...
from winning. Professor Malika Zeghal
Malika Zeghal
Malika Zeghal is the Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Professor in Contemporary Islamic Thought and Life at Harvard University, and formerly an associate professor of the anthropology and sociology of religion in the University of Chicago Divinity School...
of Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
agrees.
According to many analysts the complex voting system makes it almost impossible for any group to win an outright majority, although others have disagreed with this view, arguing that the electoral system is not particularly unusual and should favor large parties.http://www.carnegieendowment.org/files/resende-apr2008.pdf. Whatever the outcome, real power will remain with the king, who is executive head of state, military chief and religious leader.
For the first time in the history of elections in Morocco, they are being monitored by foreign observers including the U.S.'s National Democratic Institute for International Affairs
National Democratic Institute for International Affairs
The National Democratic Institute for International Affairs is an organization created by the United States government by way of the National Endowment for Democracy to channel grants for furthering democracy in developing nations. It was founded in 1983, shortly after the U.S. Congress created...
and 42 others.
Turnout in the election was only 37% - the lowest in the history of Moroccan national elections. The Socialist Union of People's Forces (USFP), the largest party in the outgoing government lost nearly a quarter of its seats, and was replaced as the largest party by its coalition partner, the Istiqlal Party
Istiqlal Party
The Istiqlal or Independence Party is a political party in Morocco...
. The main gainers were the pro-government liberal People's Movement and Constitutional Union parties. The opposition Islamist Justice and Development Party
Justice and Development Party (Morocco)
The Justice and Development Party is the largest opposition political party in Morocco. The PJD advocates Islamism and Islamic democracy.-History:...
had a modest increase in its tally as did the pro-government leftist Party of Progress and Socialism
Party of Progress and Socialism
The Party of Progress and Socialism is a political party in Morocco. The party was founded by Ali Yata in 1974.In the parliamentary election held on 27 September 2002, the party won 11 out of 325 seats...
.
Following the election the USFP was expected to leave the governing coalition. Istiqlal Party leader Abbas El Fassi
Abbas El Fassi
Abbas El Fassi was the Prime Minister of Morocco from 19 September 2007 to 29 November 2011. El Fassi, a member of the Istiqlal Party, replaced independent Driss Jettou.El Fassi was born in Berkane, Morocco on September 18, 1940...
became PM on 19 September 2007.