Setback for Islamists in Morocco elections

Morocco's main opposition Islamist party failed to make its hoped-for breakthrough in Friday's legislative elections, marked by an historic low turnout of only 41 percent, early results showed Saturday.The Justice and Development Party (PJD), which had big ambitions to become the largest single party in parliament, saw its hopes dashed at dawn on Saturday and immediately accused its rivals of electoral corruption."We will have a maximum of 56 seats (in the 325-seat chamber) because money was changing hands all over the place. But we still think we will be the biggest party, and if we are not it really will be the wrong way round," the party's number-two Lahcen Daoudi said after being re-elected in Fes.The party's leader Saad Eddine Othmani, who was expected to win in a constituency in Casablanca, was less confident. "We are certain to have at least 40 seats but we are having trouble in counting up exactly because the authorities don't give out all the figures," he told AFP."The results are too incomplete to be able to say whether or not we will be the biggest party," he added, looking visibly worn out.Partial results were due to be announced by the interior ministry on Saturday evening and the final results on Sunday. International observers, scrutinising a Moroccan election for the first time, were due to report their preliminary findings late Saturday.During the campaign Daoudi had predicted the PJD would get 80 seats against 42 in the outgoing parliament, making it the largest party, while Othmani had forecast 70.The competing parties mostly fall under three main headings: the left and centre-right parties that are part of the current governing coalition; Islamist formations, including the PJD, which is currently the main opposition; and leftist groups that are part of an alliance.The PJD won 42 seats in 2002 but was kept out of the five-party governing coalition led by Driss Jettou, then a non-politician appointed by the king.Voters cast their ballots for 295 deputies in 95 constituencies and 30 deputies on a separate national list to ensure a quota of women.Turnout slumped to its lowest ever figure in the history of this north African kingdom. Only two voters in five bothered to cast their ballots in the second legislative elections since Mohammed VI acceded to the throne in 1999.According to interior ministry estimates, turnout was 41 percent, against 52 percent in 2002. Voter disaffection has been steadily increasing over the years. In 1984 turnout was officially 67.43 percent, although there were many irregularities. Interior Minister Chakib Benmoussa admitted the turnout was disappointing."The challenge today is to think of the best way of mobilising the electorate in support of political action. That is everybody's responsiblity: officials, political parties and civil society," he said.Some voters had difficulties in understanding procedure.Each competing group of candidates chose a symbol so illiterate voters would recognise the party, as nearly half of the population cannot read.
In Ain el Aouda, a rural community 25 kilometres (15 miles) outside Rabat, 44-year-old labourer Mouamar Jaouadi regretted that no information campaign was organised in his village.
"The majority of people here are illiterate country people and one will find among them men and women who had difficulty in understanding how to vote," he said, as he waited in front of the voting centre in the midday sun on Saturday.
http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=070908120439.gpvxbp6k&show_article=1&catnum=0

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