The Justice and Development Party (PJD) in Morocco has reaffirmed its decision to remain in opposition, according to Mustapha El Khalfi, a member of the PJD's General Secretariat. This stance is attributed to the party's disagreements with the Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM), which won the recent legislative elections with 97 seats. El Khalfi stated that the PJD's position is firm and linked to PAM's electoral campaign, which allegedly targeted Islamists and the PJD.
The PJD's decision to stay in opposition comes after King Mohammed VI appointed Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri as Morocco's first-ever female Head of Government. El Mansouri is currently carrying out consultations with political parties to form a government coalition. The PJD, led by Abdelilah Benkirane, secured 54 seats in the elections and has been vocal about its opposition to several positions held by PAM. Benkirane previously stated that the PJD is the real winner, emphasizing the party's growing strength as an opposition force.
El Khalfi highlighted the sharp disagreements between the PJD and PAM on key issues, including the revision of the Family Code and the fight against corruption. He cited PAM's withdrawal of the law on illicit enrichment from Parliament and its vote against a bill concerning a cap on fuel prices as examples of these disagreements. The PJD has attributed its secured votes in the legislative elections to its continuous and diligent work.
The PJD conducted "deep" reviews to examine the objective and subjective reasons behind the decline in its results, according to El Khalfi. In 2021, the PJD secured only 13 seats, making its recent performance a notable improvement. The party's decision to remain in opposition is seen as a significant development in Moroccan politics, particularly given the criticism surrounding PAM's electoral campaign.
PAM was part of the government coalition led by the National Rally of Independents (RNI) under former Head of Government Aziz Akhannouch, whose cabinet still runs the country pending the formation of a new government. El Mansouri's appointment as Head of Government has sparked division among Moroccans who question PAM's fitness to run another government. The PJD's opposition stance is likely to influence the formation of the new government.
El Khalfi emphasized that the PJD cannot join hands with PAM at the level of government work, citing the party's announcement that it came to fight Islamists and the PJD. This sentiment reflects the PJD's concerns about PAM's electoral campaign and its implications for the party's values and goals. The PJD's stance has significant implications for Moroccan politics and the formation of the new government.
The PJD's decision to remain in opposition underscores the complexities of Moroccan politics and the challenges facing the formation of a new government. As El Mansouri continues her consultations with political parties, the PJD's stance is likely to remain a key factor in the negotiations. The party's commitment to its values and goals is clear, and its opposition stance is likely to shape the future of Moroccan politics.
Key points
- The PJD's opposition stance is driven by disagreements with PAM on key issues, including the revision of the Family Code and the fight against corruption.
