Justice and Development Party (Morocco)

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The Justice and Development Party (Arabic: حزب العدالة والتنمية) (French: Parti de la Justice et du Développement, abbreviated to PJD) is a legal moderate (non revolutionary), Islamist political party in Morocco. It recognizes the actual political system.

1 History
2 Parliamentary Representation
3 Ideology
4 See also
5 External links

[edit] 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 (French: 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 (French: 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, this name was probably inspired by the Turkish Justice and Development Party. It must be noted however that the Moroccan PJD is much less liberal and modern than the Turkish PJD, although a very slow modernisation process is going on.

[edit] Parliamentary Representation

At the last legislative elections, 27 September 2002, the party won 42 out of 325 seats, winning most of the districts where it was allowed to compete. Its secertary-general since 2004 is Saadeddine Othmani, deputy of Inezgane, an outer suburb of Agadir.

[edit] Ideology

Unlike the other important Islamist organisation, Al Adl Wa Al Ihssane, it participates in the political system.

The party had a tradition of publishing violent diatribes in the newspaper of the MUR (Attajdid), focussing 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. Many people think it is the favourite for the 2007 legislative elections, although its political and social program remains vague, especially its attitude towards basic civil liberties.