Political leaders broadly satisfied with results of Friday's local elections
Morocco, Politics, 9/15/2003

Following the announcement of results of Friday's communal elections, during which 54.16% of the 14,620,937 registered voters cast their votes, leaders of political parties that took part in these polls were broadly satisfied with the results and atmosphere of these elections.

Abbas El Fassi, leader of the Istiqlal party (PI/nationalist) that emerged as the winner with 3,890 seats out of a total of 23,680 seats (16.96%), said he is proud of his party's results which confirm the PI's strong presence in Morocco's political map. He also noted the good atmosphere in which the polling took place and the administration's "positive neutrality" as a clear sign that democracy is the winner and that there was a strong resolve to fulfill the King's orientations for honest and transparent elections.

The Socialist Union of Popular Forces (USFP/left) that described the score of 3,373 seats as a good one, regrets, however, the low turnout rate (54.16%). USFP's first secretary, Abderrahmane Youssoufi, told MAP his party could have won more seats, had the turnout been higher.

Youssoufi also renewed a proposal to make voting compulsory and hoped that the new councilors mandate and democratic leaps in Morocco will make citizens forget past experiences.

Bouazza Ikken, whose party the Democratic Union (UD) came in 5th with 1,515 seats, was very satisfied with the party's performance during these elections although the UD did not submit candidates in all the constituencies. As many as 90% of UD candidates were elected, he said.

Ikken, however, criticized the proportional representation list-voting system which, he said, prevented his party from making a better score. He said this voting system is not appropriate for the Moroccan electorate and often does not emerge in majorities. Ikken also announced that his party and others from the other "Popular affiliation" parties (Popular Movement, National Popular Movement, and Social Democratic Movement) will be forming alliances in the election of communal councils.

The Party for Justice and Development (PJD/in parliament) said its results of 593 seats are "honorable" compared to the low number of candidates it submitted. The PJD assistant-secretary general, Saad Eddine Othmani, told MAP his party opted for "a limited participation strategy" and "for the gradual methodology," in view of the circumstances at home and abroad, and has, however, ranked 1st, 2nd or 3rd in all cities.

Othmani promised that his party which will be taking councillorship in several small and medium-sized cities, will have a different way of managing local affairs and will prepare for the coming elections.

For the Socialist Democratic Party (PSD) that took 469 seats, the communal elections were a positive step towards consolidating democratic transition in Morocco. The PSD secretary general, Aissa Ouardighi, was bitter over the low turnout rate and over the persistence of some bad practices.

Ouardighi said, however, that his party obtained positive results both as regards the number of votes and the number of seats.

Results of these elections have maintained the dominion of the current parliamentary majority, said Ahmed Herzenni, member of the political bureau of the PGSU (Party of the Unified Socialist Left) that obtained 303 seats, voicing astonishment at his party's good results, despite its limited means. He also argued that the low turnout rate is due to the complicated proportional representation list voting system.

The Constitution Union (UC) that ranked 8th with 959 seats regretted the low turnout rate and held the government and political parties as well as the proportional representation voting system responsible for the regression in participation.

The UC secretary general, Mohamed Abied, said political parties sharing the same principles should unite in order to avoid political crumbling.

Abied said his party scored "relatively good" results compared to its coverage of constituencies.

Moroccans can be proud of the honest, transparent and free climate that marked the September 12th local polls, Moroccan Prime Minister, Driss Jettou, said.

Speaking at a press briefing at the interior ministry offices Friday, Jettou had said "after the legislative elections of September 2002 and those held today, Moroccans can recover confidence in their country and institutions."

Here follows is the complete results:



Political Affiliation Number of seats



- Istiqlal Party 3,890

- Socialist Union of Popular Forces 3,373

- National Rally of Independents 2,841

- Popular Movement 2,248

- Democratic Union 1,515

- National Popular Movement 1,406

- Party of Progress and Socialism 1,207

- Constitutional Union 959

- National Democrat Party 889

- Front of Democratic Forces 726

- Party of Justice and Development 593

- Democratic Socialist Party 469

- Al-Ahd Party 437

- Party of the League of Freedoms 429

- Party of the Unified Socialist Left 303

- Democratic Social Movement 301

- Party of Reform and Development 253

- Party of the Ittihadi National Congress 240

- Party of Environment and Development 168

- Party of Renewal and Equity 125

- Moroccan Liberal Party 114

- Non-Affiliated Candidates 109

- Democratic Party of Independence 96

-Party of Citizenship Initiative and development 71

- Party of Citizen Forces 71

- Party of social center 67

- Party of Action 43

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