USFP holds 6th congress March 29-31 in Casablanca
Morocco, Politics, 3/29/2001

The Socialist Union of Popular Forces (USFP) holds its sixth congress in Casablanca March 29 through 31.

The congress to be attended by 1,200 to 1,500 participants is described by the USFP political bureau as "a historic event for the party and an outstanding phase in the history of our country's democratic transition."

On the eve of the congress, first secretary of the party, Abderrahmane Youssoufi, called the USFP militants "to adopt a responsible stand" and "at least be in tune with the expectations of the Moroccan public opinion."

The Moroccan public opinion grants a special interest to and "pins great hope" on this 6th congress, Youssoufi told the Moroccan TV channel TVM, Wednesday evening.

The congress, convening more than ten years after the 5th congress in 1989, is held in a special juncture, Youssoufi said, adding this is an exceptional event for all the Moroccan political forces.

He said the congress is held three years after Morocco initiated the experience of political alternation.

The USFP is actually leading a coalition government that was formed in 1998, bringing to power center-left

parties after decades of right-wing rule. The experience was described as a unique and extraordinary experience in the Arab world.

The 6th congress will discuss a number of documents and will assess results of the party's activities, mainly at the head of the coalition government. It is also expected to discuss the legislative elections scheduled for 2002 and the representation of women in the party's structures. The congress is to adopt a decision grating to women 20% seats in all the party's decision-making bodies.

Moroccan dailies of all trends run this Thursday comments on the USFP congress, outlining it marks an important phase in Morocco's political life.

The party's mouthpiece Al Ittihad Al Ichtiraki called the party to "modernize its working methods and improve its performance while operating a greater overture on the components of the society."

The USFP was set up in 1975 after a scission within the UNFP (National Union of Popular Forces), itself set up after a split within the Istiqlal party in 1959.

In 1978, a trade union close to the USFP was set up, namely la Conf?d?ration D?mocratique du Travail (CDT).

The party is led by Youssoufi since 1992 after the demise of Abderrahim Bouabid.

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