While many of Morocco’s political elite were trying to explain the record low turnout in last week’s parliamentary elections, an Islamist movement that has stayed out of mainstream politics was feeling vindicated.
Al-Adl Wal Ihsan, which is thought to be the most popular Islamist organisation in the north African state, has persistently claimed it was pointless taking part in the formal political system without constitutional reform. It says its influence was probably one of the factors behind the 37 per cent turnout in Friday's poll.
It is far from clear that the organisation – which operates as a charity – can channel the apathy into political support. But the results have bolstered its arguments that the political system is flawed. “The people understand that there’s no hope in the system and perhaps we have something to do with this ... and it [the movement’s influence] has woken political conscience,” Nadia Yassin, a senior official and the daughter of the movement's leader, told the FT on Monday.
Al Adl – also known as Justice and Charity – is not a formal political party and does not take part in elections, believing the monarchy’s powers must be stripped before there can be change. It did not call for a boycott, but neither did it urge people to vote.
The election outcome came as a surprise, with Istiqlal, a traditional conservative party, winning the most seats – 52 in the 325-member assembly – ahead of the Justice and Development Party (PJD), a moderate Islamist party, according to final figures released yesterday.
The PJD had been expected to make strong gains. It won only 46 seats – just four more than in 2002 elections – in spite of having fielded candidates nationally for the first time. It has said that other parties used money to influence voters.
Ms Yassin said the PJD had not done as well as expected because people had lost hope in its ability to bring change during the five years it spent in parliamentary opposition. “It’s proof that we know nothing will change in Morocco and the election is a great lie,” Ms Yassin said. “I think more people will look to our movement now.”
PJD officials on Monday disputed this analysis, insisting that their participation in the official political establishment was key to pushing for more democracy.
