Morocco
1. Country Profile
Capital: Rabat
Population: 31,992,592 (July 2009)
Ethnic groups: Arab-Berber (99.1%), other (0.7%), Jewish (0.2%)
Religions: Muslim (98.7%, mostly Maliki Sunnite), Christian 1.1%, Jewish 0.2%
Languages: Arabic / French is main second language
Regime Type: Constitutional monarchy
Head of state: King Mohammed VI (since July 1999)
Prime Minister: Abdelilah Benkirane (January 2012)
Parliament (Seat Distribution, see below. Last Election: 2011)
Freedom House Ranking: Partly Free
GDP / Capita: $4,546 (2009)
Literacy Rate: 52.3% (Male: 65,7%, Female: 39,6%)
Unemployment Rate: 9.8%
Human Development Index (2010): 0.567 (114th)
Reforms by the government and elections
2. Political Situation
A referendum on constitutional reforms was held in Morocco in 2011 where a new constitution was adopted. It was called in response to the protests for more democracy that took place early in the year.
The Morocco government announced in April, it would increase public sector salaries and raise the minimum wage in the latest of a series of handouts aimed at preventing any spill over from revolt in other Arab countries. It also appointed a committee to reform the constitution in order to cede more powers, promised to make justice independent and freed some political prisoners.
In his second public address since popular protests began in February, the king, Mohamed VI, announced a package of comprehensive constitutional reforms on 9th March.
Tens of thousands of Moroccans demonstrated on 30th March, calling for the dissolution of parliament and the government, and vowing to continue protests ahead of the submission of the draft constitution to the king.
3. Key Issues
Many Moroccans continue to support the ruling monarchy and particularly King Mohammed VI despite significant economic grievances
The Socialist Union of Popular Forces - Union socialiste des forces populaires (USFP) and the Parti du progrès et du socialisme (PPS) also joined the demonstrations. However, all political parties including the SI-member UFSP are generally aligned with support for a strong monarchy. Although they demanded executive power to be concentrated in the hands of an elected prime minister, they have not challenged the king's control over defence and foreign policy or his power to appoint key members of the judiciary.
4. EU / Morocco Relations
EU-Cooperation: The Association Agreement with Morocco entered into force in 2000.
The EU is Morocco's most important trade partner (60% of its total trade). Morocco exports mostly manufactured articles, foods and live animals and imports Machinery and transport equipment from the EU.
EU Multiannual Programming for Morocco (2011-2013): €580.51 Million
5. Parliamentary elections in Morocco
Early parliamentary elections were held in Morocco on 25 November 2011, brought forward from 2012 and then postponed from 7 October 2011.
Public protests as part of the Arab Spring in February 2011 led King Mohammed VI to announce early elections, a process of constitutional reform granting new civil rights, and relinquishing some of his administrative powers. Following a referendum on 1 July 2011, the new constitution was ratified on 13 September.
There were a total of 30 parties in the race but three political formations were significant: the moderate Islamist Justice and Development Party; an eight-party "Coalition for Democracy" headed by Morocco's incumbent minister of finance Salaheddine Mezouar; and the Koutla alliance of the incumbent prime minister Abbas El Fassi.
Of the Lower House of Parliament's 395 seats, 305 were elected from party lists in 92 constituencies, an the additional 90 seats were elected from a national list, with two thirds reserved for women and the remaining third reserved for men under the age of 40.
Results of the election were announced on 27 November 2011. The Justice and Development party won 107 seats, giving it the largest parliamentary representation, although not a majority. According to the new constitution, this made its leader, Abdelillah Benkirane, prime minister designate.
Electoral system
The election follows the closed list proportional representation system using the largest remainder method. Voting is conducted through universal suffrage in secret ballots.
There are two types of list, local and national. 305 seats are allocated for the local lists spread over 92 electoral districts, while the national list consists of 90 seats, putting the total number of deputies at 395 - 70 more than the last election.
The national list consists of a 60 seats list reserved for women and another of 30 seats for candidates under 40. The list follows the same proportional representation system but on the level of the country.
Participating parties
A total of 30 parties proposed candidates in the election while three far-left parties - the communist "Talia", the Unified Socialist Party and the "Nahj Ad-Dimuqrati" - called for a boycott. The Islamist organization Al Adl Wa Al Ihssane and the 20 February protest movement also called for a boycott.
Istiqlal was the only party that filled a list for every constituency. The Justice and Development Party and the Socialist Union of Popular Forces both fielded 393 candidates.
The main contestants in the election were three political formations: the moderate Islamist Justice and Development Party, headed by Abdelillah Benkirane; the "Coalition for Democracy" which is an alliance headed by Morocco's current minister of finance Salaheddine Mezouar; and the Koutla alliance of the incumbent prime minister Abbas El Fassi.
The Coalition for Democracy was formed on 10 October 2011 and groups eight parties: The National rally of Independents, Popular movement, Constitutional Union, Authenticity and Modernity Party, Labour party, Green Left Party, Party of Renaissance and Virtue and the Socialist Party.
The Koutla groups three parties which are members of the 2007-2011 government; namely the Istiqlal Party, the Socialist Union of Popular Forces and the Party of Progress and Socialism. The Koutla alliance criticized the decision of two other member parties of the current government to join the Coalition for Democracy alliance with other parties of the opposition. Consequently, the leaders of the Koutla made implicit calls for the Justice and Development party to join their alliance.
New Government
The head of Islamist Justice and Development Party (PJD), Abdelilah Benkirane, was appointed by King Mohammed VI to forming a new government. According to the constitution, the king must pick the head of government from the winning party but that person can be anyone from the party and not necessarily the chief of the party.
On Tuesday January 3, 2012, King Mohamed VI of Morocco appointed the new members of the government led by moderate Islamists. Abdelilah Benkirane, Morocco’s new prime minister and leader of the Justice and Development Party (PJD), will run a broad coalition including liberals, ex-communists, conservative monarchists and socialists. The new government includes only one female minister. After a lengthy process of thirty-five days of laborious negotiations and government forming, the ministers selected by Benkirane were presented to the King for approval and sworn in at the Royal Palace in Rabat. The PJD will be the first Islamist party to lead the oldest monarchy of the Arab world.The PJD has vowed to combat corruption and tax evasion, reduce unemployment rates, and boost economic growth. Combating corruption, especially at the high echelons of government and in the circles of the palace, will likely be the most challenging for the party. It remains to be seen aggressive it will pursue its reformist agenda.
Results
Party
Total seats
Seats %
Seat change compared to last elections
Constituency seats
List seats
107
27.1
61
83
24
60
15.2
8
47
13
National rally of independents
52
13.2
13
40
12
Authenticity and Modernity Party
47
11.9
47
35
12
Socialist Union of Popular Forces (SI Member Party)
39
9.9
1
30
9
32
8.1
9
24
8
23
5.8
4
17
6
Party of Progress and Socialism (PPS)
18
4.6
1
12
6
4
1
1
4
0
2
0.5
2
2
0
Democratic and Social Movement (MDS)
2
0.5
7
2
0
Environment and Development Party
2
0.5
3
2
0
2
0.5
2
2
0
1
0.3
8
1
0
Action Party (PA)
1
0.3
1
1
0
Union and Democracy Party (PUD)
1
0.3
1
1
0
Party of Liberty and Social Justice (PLJS)
1
0.3
1
1
0
1
0.3
1
1
0
Socialist Party (PS)
0
0
2
0
0
Moroccan Union for Democracy (UMD)
0
0
2
0
0
Citizens' Forces (PFC)
0
0
1
0
0
Party of Renaissance and Virtue (PRV)
0
0
1
0
0
National Congress Party (PCNI)
0
0
6
0
0
Independents
0
0
5
0
0
Total (turnout 45.4%)
395
100%
70
305
90
Assembly of Representatives of Morocco results grouped by coalition
Coalition
Constituency seats
List seats
Total seats
Seats %
Seat change compared to last elections
Coalition for Democracy
121
38
159
40.3
44
89
28
117
29.6
10
83
24
107
27.1
61
6. Like Minded Partners
A. Sister Party
Union Socialistes des Forces Populaires, USFP / Socialist Union of Popular Forces, USFP
B. Civil Society Organization
C. Friedrich Ebert Stiftung
Representation in Morocco:
Ulrich Storck, Friedrich Ebert Stiftung, B.P. 1769, 9, rue de Tiddas, 10 000 Rabat, Morocco
Tel. 00212/537 76 28 58 , E-Mail Ulrich.Storck@fes.org.ma; Internet www.fes.org.ma
Updated: 18.1.12
