MOROCCO: Polls suggest a close result in elections but political parties reject coalition government

Morocco's governing parties say that they will not form a coalition government with the Islamist party if they win the parliamentary election because their opponents fail to follow democracy. Despite surveys suggesting a close result, Morocco's governing parties would find it hard to form a cabinet with Islamists after Friday's (September 7) elections because their opponents fail to follow democratic words with deeds, top coalition government officials said on Thursday (September 6). "We think that the current majority in the Parliament will get the majority that is our hope, if this happen they will be no need to enlarge the majority by coalition with the opposition, I do not see the need for that" Leader of Union of Socialist Popular Forces Mohamed al-Yazighi said. The ruling coalition is dominated by the Union of Socialist Popular Forces (USFP) and conservative Istiqlal (Independence), which will defend a five-year record of cautious social and economic reforms in polls on Friday. Surveys suggest the moderate Islamist Justice and Development Party (PJD) will make strong gains in the Sept. 7 polls, its anti-corruption stance touching a nerve in a country where dissatisfaction with the political elite is widespread and politicians are often perceived as aloof and out of touch. But few experts are willing to bet on a PJD government as the country's complex voting system discourages outright majorities and much hangs on negotiations with royal palace officials in the days after the polls. Morocco's Minister of Youth and Sport Mohamed Gashs said that none of the parties running in the elections will get the vast majority needed to form a government. "By logic they will be no party that will win the vast majority so the room for coalition is still there" Gashs said. "There are some parties including the party I come from (Social Union of Popular Forces) that have said before the elections that they will not participate in a government which will include the (Islamist) Justice and Development Party (PJD) for political and other reasons" Gashs added. PJD officials suggest they might join a new coalition if it meets their demands and programme to fight corruption. For others, a strong PJD performance could shake up politics and give the sleepy Rabat parliament a more independent voice. Reforms have boosted industry and investment in recent years, but joblessness and grinding poverty remain widespread, forcing many Moroccans abroad in search of a better life. mv/jrc

ITN Source | September 7, 2007

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