Islamic party says limited participation in local polls, a strategic choice
Morocco, Politics, 9/10/2003

The decision to limit the participation of the Party of Justice and Development (PJD) to next Friday's local elections, is part of a "strategy" adopted by this party since 1997, said Saad Eddine Othmani, deputy secretary General of the party categorized as an "Islamist" party.

The PJD leader told MAP his party has adopted the same strategy during the legislative held last year when this party covered only 46% of constituencies nationwide and won 42 seats at the 325-seat House of Representatives (lower parliamentary chamber). As to the local councils elections, the PJD, he said, is running in large cities with up to 50 to 60% of constituencies with only 4,286 candidates out of the 122,658 in the race.

Othmani added that in order to contribute to the promotion of democracy in Morocco, bearing in mind the situation at home and abroad, the party has presented candidates that fulfil conditions of competence, experience and honesty.

Of the party's electoral program, he said it focuses on seven priorities that include the consolidation of the local democracy, the moralization of the running of local affairs, contact and dialogue with partners, improvement of services for the benefit of the citizens and their participation in running local affairs.

Othmani did not rule out the possibility to establish alliances with other political parties after the elections results are announced.

As to the presence of women candidates from his party, he said they represent between 10 and 15% of the total candidates.

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