A Remarkable Political Resurgence
Azmi did not need a parliamentary seat to maintain his leadership position within the Justice and Development Party (PJD). Nevertheless, the party propelled him into the electoral district of Skhirat-Témara, a region where it lost all its seats in the 2021 elections. The strategy hinged on Azmi's name and his ability to reclaim what was lost. In a surprising turn of events, he emerged as the leading candidate in the district, garnering 19,291 votes, a significant increase from the mere 5,398 votes the party received five years prior. This dramatic surge, however, should not be viewed in isolation from the broader context; it coincided with a decline in voter turnout, suggesting that while the party regained some voter confidence, it did not necessarily expand its electoral base.
A Journey from Fes to Political Prominence
Born in Fes on September 16, 1966, Azmi spent his childhood and part of his youth in Taza, where he earned his high school diploma in experimental sciences in 1984. He returned to Fes to obtain his bachelor’s degree in chemistry in 1989 and furthered his education at the University of Poitiers in France, where he earned a doctorate in applied chemistry in 1994. What sets Azmi apart from many of his contemporaries is his diverse educational background, which includes a high-level diploma from the National School of Administration and studies in economics, allowing him to blend the precision of a chemist with the analytical skills of an economist. This unique combination led him to serve as the Deputy Director of Treasury and External Finance at the Ministry of Economy and Finance before entering the government.
On January 3, 2012, Azmi was appointed as Minister Delegate in charge of budget within Abdelilah Benkirane's government, a role that firmly associated him with major financial reforms, including the 2015 reform of the compensation fund and pension system, both of which he continued to advocate for even after leaving office. In September 2015, Azmi shifted to a local political role by becoming the Mayor of Fes, a position that remained closely linked to his political journey until 2021.
The year 2021 marked one of the most challenging periods in Azmi's political career, as the party lost all its parliamentary seats in Fes, with Azmi at the forefront of this setback, given his role as the city’s mayor. Despite this, the party continued to place him in prominent positions; he became the head of the National Council in December 2017 and subsequently the first deputy of the secretary-general. In this capacity, he emerged as a key figure responsible for framing and interpreting economic discussions with the government, while Benkirane focused on direct popular discourse.
Azmi's candidacy in Skhirat-Témara did not come without controversy; media reports indicated that he was not the top candidate for the local party leadership, yet the party's secretariat ultimately favored him. Questions arose regarding his transition from Fes to Témara. However, the ballot boxes answered this debate with numbers, as Azmi secured approximately 28% of the votes, while his closest rival, Mohammed Hilali from the Authenticity and Modernity Party, received around 10,788 votes.
On a national scale, the party rebounded to 54 seats after only managing 13 seats in 2021. Azmi described this outcome as a victory over exclusion attempts, simultaneously linking the low turnout rate (38%) to the government's performance. Following the results, he clarified his stance for the upcoming phase, asserting that in his view, the party's natural position is in opposition, ruling out any alliances with a government led by the Authenticity and Modernity Party, which emerged as the frontrunner.
The question that now accompanies Azmi to his new seat is whether this political comeback will endure. Can a party that has exited both the government and parliamentary arenas transform its 54 seats into a robust and influential opposition? Azmi, who shaped the party's economic record while in government, will now be tested from the perspective of a critic.
As reported by febrayer.com.
