The recent nominations of women's regional lists by the Justice and Development Party (PJD) have sparked significant controversy in various regions, culminating in the announcement of approximately 30 members in Laayoune who have decided to withdraw from the party. This protest was triggered by the exclusion of Rafika Al-Yahyaoui from the final nominations.
Sources close to the matter revealed that Abdelilah Benkirane, the Secretary-General of the PJD, strongly defended Rafika Al-Yahyaoui's candidacy during a recent party meeting dedicated to discussing nominations. Despite his efforts, some members of the party’s secretariat backed another candidate, Rakiibi, leading to a deadlock in the initial vote, which ended in a tie of 12 votes each. Following a re-evaluation and subsequent vote, Rakiibi was ultimately favored and secured the top position.
It was noted that Benkirane expressed dissatisfaction with the outcome of the voting process, which did not align with his preferences. Nevertheless, he eventually accepted the results of the organizational procedures and internal voting that determined the final nominations. Additionally, reports indicated that the top-ranking candidates were not respected in several regional circuits, including Casablanca-Settat, Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima, Rabat-Salé-Kenitra, Fez-Meknes, and Marrakech-Safi. This discrepancy arose because the final secret ballot within the secretariat ultimately decides the ranking of the nominated candidates.
Several candidates, who were previously considered frontrunners and ranked first at the regional level, saw their standings drop to second or third during discussions. This shift is attributed to what is termed "political and organizational consideration," which takes into account national and electoral balances rather than just local or regional rankings.
In a statement to "Telquel Arabic," Saadia Boussif, the head of the PJD Women's Organization, emphasized that the issues related to the women's regional lists should be understood within their organizational and legal context. She explained that certain nominations are subject to specific requirements, including representation of Moroccans abroad and legally defined age categories.
Boussif clarified that the role of coordinator within the women's organization does not necessarily imply candidacy for the regional lists, and this principle also applies to male candidates. She noted that the ranking does not solely depend on organizational responsibility or seniority. The party, she asserted, does not operate under the logic of "personal ambitions" or prior commitments, highlighting that many activists did not demand or condition their involvement but continued to work within the party as usual despite not being nominated.
The head of the PJD Women’s Organization reiterated that the secretariat holds the final decision-making authority according to the applicable laws, which have been adhered to throughout the nomination process. She affirmed that the secret ballot remains the decisive factor in ranking candidates, embodying the democratic practice within the party.
Boussif also pointed out that the regional list operates under a quota system rather than a purely local logic, stressing that parliamentarians are required to engage with various regions and be consistently involved in legislation, oversight, and field presence.
It is noteworthy that representatives of Moroccans abroad within the party proposed one of the names discussed in the list, considering this choice to be "legally binding," similar to the necessity of selecting a candidate under 35 years of age.
The party has nominated Hind Al-Bakki as the lead candidate for the regional list in the Rabat-Salé-Kenitra district, as she falls within the youth category stipulated by law, which mandates representation in these lists. Al-Bakki hails from the Sidi Kacem region, is a state engineer, and serves as a member of the national office of the PJD Youth and the national office of the PJD Engineers Association, in addition to being a member of the party's secretariat.
Moreover, the party’s secretariat has endorsed Majdoline Rouzi as the lead candidate for the regional list in the Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima district, given her affiliation with the Moroccan diaspora, in accordance with new legal provisions that grant special consideration for candidates residing outside the kingdom within regional lists. Rouzi, originally from the Chefchaouen region, is a former member of the national council of the PJD, has previously been elected to the party branch office in Brussels, and works as an energy management expert with several international organizations.
As reported by ar.telquel.ma.
