The Marrakech city district of Sidi Youssef Ben Ali is poised to be a focal point of electoral scrutiny, given its unique geographical makeup that combines the historic old city, the Sidi Youssef Ben Ali district, and the urban sprawl of the Taseltant municipality. This blend creates a complex electoral landscape where multiple factors intersect, making it an intriguing area for political competition.
A retrospective analysis reveals that the results from the 2016 and 2021 elections hold significant relevance as we approach the upcoming legislative elections scheduled for September 23. Data from previous elections indicate a remarkable transformation within this district, which has shifted from being a bastion of strength for the Justice and Development Party (PJD) to a more diversified electoral map featuring three distinct parties vying for influence.
The Shift from PJD Dominance to a Triumvirate in 2021
In the election held on September 8, 2021, the Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM) emerged as the frontrunner, securing 16,136 votes and winning a seat through Fatima Zahra Mansouri, who later became the party's collective leadership coordinator. The Independence Party followed closely with 11,361 votes, claiming the second seat via Abdul Aziz Darwish, while the National Rally of Independents (RNI), which led the government coalition during the previous term, came in third with 8,753 votes, capturing the third seat through Younes Benslimane. This outcome resulted in an even distribution of the three seats among the government majority parties: PAM, the Independence Party, and RNI, while the PJD, which previously held the most seats, found itself out of the winners' circle.
The success of these candidates is closely linked to their prior local and party affiliations; for instance, Mansouri had previously served as the head of the Marrakech municipality, maintaining her influence in local governance. Younes Benslimane was a well-known figure within the PJD prior to his transition to the RNI, while Abdul Aziz Darwish entered parliament representing the Independence Party.
From Prominence to Obscurity in 2016
Five years earlier, the electoral landscape looked markedly different. In the elections of October 7, 2016, the PJD dominated the Marrakech city-Sidi Youssef Ben Ali district with a total of 25,871 votes, securing two seats through Younes Benslimane and Bashir Toba. The PAM ranked second, winning a seat through Fatima Zahra Mansouri, who garnered over 14,713 votes. Thus, the composition of the three seats in 2016 was divided between two for the PJD and one for PAM, reflecting the significant electoral weight the PJD held at that time. The party secured five of the nine seats allocated to the Marrakech province in the 2016 elections, only to witness a drastic shift in the electoral map during the 2021 elections, as the PJD experienced a decline across most electoral districts nationwide.
The data illustrates a stark contrast in the PJD's performance, plummeting from 25,871 votes in 2016 to a mere 1,723 votes in 2021 for their candidate Mohamed Al-Arabi Belqaid, which resulted in the party failing to secure any seats. Conversely, the PAM maintained its position, while both the Independence Party and the RNI made their way into the winners' circle in 2021, having not been part of the winning composition in 2016.
As we look ahead to the 2026 elections, competition is beginning to take shape through announced endorsements. The PAM is returning to the district with Mansouri leading their campaign. Her association with the PAM is crucial, particularly after the party topped the local legislative election results in Marrakech in 2021, securing a seat in each of the three districts. Meanwhile, the RNI has nominated Said Korach as their candidate, who will be contesting in a different district than in previous elections, aiming to solidify the party's presence in the area. The Independence Party is also returning with Abdul Aziz Darwish, who won a seat in 2021, indicating a strategy of continuity for the party within one of the most vibrant electoral districts in the tourist capital.
Other parties like the Socialist Union of Popular Forces are presenting prominent figures such as Lahcen Zelmat, a well-known name in the hotel and tourism sectors, while the Popular Movement has put forward Abdel Sadik Bittari, the president of the Royal Moroccan Gymnastics Federation. The PJD is attempting a comeback with academic Salah Eddine Ayash, hoping to reclaim a seat in a district from which they exited without representation in 2021.
The Constitutional Union has nominated Kamal Majid, while the Progress and Socialism Party has endorsed human rights activist Ibrahim Hami. Thus far, the list of candidates for the Marrakech city-Sidi Youssef Ben Ali district includes Fatima Zahra Mansouri from PAM, Said Korach from RNI, Abdul Aziz Darwish from the Independence Party, Ibrahim Hami from the Progress and Socialism Party, Lahcen Zelmat from the Socialist Union of Popular Forces, Abdel Sadik Bittari from the Popular Movement, Salah Eddine Ayash from the PJD, and Kamal Majid from the Constitutional Union.
In conclusion, the data available thus far paints a picture of a multi-faceted competition for three parliamentary seats, although it does not preordain how these seats will ultimately be distributed. The contrast between the 2016 results that favored the PJD and the 2021 outcomes that saw an equitable distribution among three parties sets the stage for a new electoral challenge, the outcomes of which can only be discerned through the actual voting process.
As reported by hespress.com.
