ANSAmed
Some 30 Marrakech municipal councilors from Morocco’s government-majority Party for Justice and Development (PJD) have recently switched to the rival Party for Authenticity and Modernity (PAM).
About 20 of those who changed sides were major figures in the party under Prime Minister Abdelilah Benkirane who are now being called ”traitors seeking government positions”. Ahead of the October 7 parliamentary elections – the second step the country brought in to stem potential uprisings as part of the Arab Spring, after the ratification of the Constitution – much of the game depends on economic issues. And while traditionalists are convinced they have managed legendary success in the past five years in the government, reformists assume they will win easily due to mediocre performance shown by the government.
Over 30 parties are competing for the 395 seats in the Chamber of Representatives, but the real contest is between the two major ones: the PJD in the government and the opposition PAM. A challenge is that of convincing abstainers, who total 60% of eligible voters. Some 15 million have been registered on electoral lists but only 1.5 million vote. The number of voters increases every election, but so does the number of small parties.
A single round will be held on a proportional basis. Of the 395 MPs, 305 are elected on a local basis at the district level and 90 on a national one, including 60 places set aside for women and 30 for those under age 40. The minimum threshold for local lists is 3%. (ANSAmed).
