New Electoral Law Threatens PJD’s Dominance in Moroccan Politics

Towards the end of an era? The PJD won victories in the 2011 and 2016 legislative elections, and has remained at the head of a governing coalition. After the new electoral law passed in Parliament in mid-March by all the parties present in the hemicycle, except the PJD, the lamp party is weakened. The new calculation determining the quota of elected representatives disadvantages it, because by achieving the same score in 2016, it would only obtain 80 to 85 seats (out of 395), compared to 125 at the time, according to estimates.

"The objective of the new electoral quotient is to prevent the PJD from taking the lead of the next government," analyzes Ahmed Bouz, Professor of Political Science, stressing that this method of calculation "does not exist in any other country". "The main issue is the appointment of a new head of government and the formation of a majority. The PJD is the big loser, as it remains the favorite for the next elections," confirms the political scientist Mustapha Sehimi, quoted by AFP.

The seven other parliamentary groups - four of which are represented in the government - are trying to justify their vote in favor of the new electoral law. According to them, this law aims to allow small parties to access the hemicycle. "We believe that democracy must give a voice to small parties and minorities," said MP Mohamed Hjira of the Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM, opposition).

This situation leads Mustapha Sehimi to point out that the PJD "is isolated, and no longer has a political majority". For his part, Saâdeddine El Othmani, head of government and also secretary general of the Islamist party, denounced a "democratic setback that weakens the institutions in an unprecedented way in the history of Morocco". During the last extraordinary session of the party’s national council, he declared that this law "targets the electoral chances of the PJD". The party intends to refer the matter to the Constitutional Court.

In addition to this obstacle that stands in its way, the party is undermined by endless divisions. Everything suggests that the decline of the party seems irreversible.