Justice and Development Party (Morocco)

Infobox_Political_party
name_english = Justice and Development Party
name_native = "حزب العدالة والتنمية"
Ḥizb al-ʿAdala wal-Tanmiyya
Parti de la Justice et du Développement
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headquarters = 4 Abdulwahid al-Marrakeshi Street, Rabat
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national = Islamism; Islamic democracy
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colorcode =#009900
website = [http://www.pjd.ma/sommaire_en.php3 Official web site]
footnotes =The Justice and Development Party ( _ar. حزب العدالة والتنمية) ( _fr. Parti de la Justice et du Développement, abbreviated to PJD") is the largest opposition political party in Morocco. The PJD promotes Islamism and Islamic democracy.

History

The party was founded by Dr. Abdelkrim Al Khatib an old politician known for his close ties with the Monarchy, under the name of MPDC ( _fr. Mouvement populaire démocratique et constitutionnel). The party was an empty shell for many years, until various members of a clandestine association Chabiba islamia, who later formed the MUR ( _fr. Mouvement unité et réforme) joined the party, with the authorisation and encouragement of former interior minister Driss Basri. It later changed its name to current PJD in 1998, reminiscent of the better known Turkish Justice and Development Party ("Adalet ve Kalkınma Partisi", AKP) which was founded three years later in 2001, however. It should be noted that the Moroccan PJD is less liberal and modern than the Turkish AKP, although a very slow modernisation process is going on.

Parliamentary representation

In the parliamentary election, held on 27 September 2002, the party won 42 out of 325 seats, winning most of the districts where it was allowed to compete. Its secretary-general since 2004 is Saadeddine Othmani, deputy of Inezgane, an outer suburb of Agadir. In the parliamentary election held on 7 September 2007, the PJD won 46 out of 325 seats, behind the Istiqlal Party, which won 52. This was contrary to expectations that the PJD would win the most seats. [ [http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/09/10/africa/AF-GEN-Morocco-Elections.php "Moroccans favor conservative party instead of ushering in Islamic party"] , Associated Press ("International Herald Tribune"), 9 September 2007.]

Ideology

The party had a tradition of publishing violent diatribes in the newspaper of the MUR ("Attajdid"), focusing its criticism on the Westernisation of Moroccan society (for example manners, women, clothing, social conduct), but not on the monarchy per se, as this is still a taboo subject in Morocco. However, since the 2003 Casablanca bombings it has considerably softened its criticism, and has adopted a lower profile and a more pragmatic attitude. The party's political and social program is considered by some to be vague, especially in its attitude towards civil liberties.

References