Morocco's Istiqlal Party seeks membership in International Democrat Union

The Moroccan Istiqlal Party (PI/government) has submitted an application for membership in the International Democrat Union, which will examine the request during the Union's upcoming meeting scheduled here June 4, under the chairmanship of Spain's Premier, Jos? Maria Aznar.

Created 42 years ago as "the International Christian-Democrat," the union groups more than one hundred political parties of the centre political spectrum representing more than 80 countries from Europe, Africa, Asia and South-America and advocating "reformist and humanist" policies.

Several European Prime Ministers and party leaders are members of the International Democrat Union such as Jos? Maria Aznar, Portugal's Premier, Durao Barroso, in his capacity as the Union's Vice-President and Italy's Prime Minister, Silvio Berlusconi.

If accepted, the Istiqlal Party would be the first Arab-Muslim political party to adhere to this Union.

Some Moroccan parties have memberships in other international party groupings, such as the Socialist Union of Popular Forces (USFP/government), member of the International Socialist (IS).

USFP's first secretary and former prime minister, Abderrahmane Youssoufi, is IS' Vice-President. Popular Movement (MP) and Constitutional Union (UC) parties are members of the International Liberal.