Political leader deplores under-representation of Moroccan women in politics

Leader of the Moroccan nationalist Istiqlal Party (PI), Abbas El Fassi, said on Saturday that Moroccan women are still under-represented in politics and stressed that this depends on women's militancy and activity within political parties.

Talking at the opening session of a colloquy held in Marrakesh (central Morocco) by the party's women's section, the PI chief renewed proposals made by women's organizations to allocate a number of seats of the elected councils and encourage their participation in public life.

He added that it is the duty of women to be further involved in the management of public affairs and keep to pace with the ongoing evolution of Moroccan society.

Latifa Bennani Smires, a member of the party's executive committee, deplored that women's representation in Morocco stands at 1.62 percent in local councils, 0.6 percent in the chamber of advisors and 0.7 percent in the house of representatives.

For his part, Mhamed Boucetta, member of the party's presidency council, underlined the important role of women throughout Moroccan history and their struggle for liberation, progress and democracy. He also called on women to show more initiative and actively participate in public life.