PJD Highlights Election Results and Calls for Extraordinary National Council Meeting
The General Secretariat of the Justice and Development Party (PJD), led by Abdelilah Benkirane, has officially announced its position regarding the preliminary results of the legislative elections held on September 23. According to the announced results, the party secured 54 seats, prompting a call for an extraordinary session of the National Council to discuss these results and make appropriate decisions.
The General Secretariat views the announced results as a significant improvement compared to the previous elections, noting that the number of seats won has increased more than fourfold. The PJD has successfully reestablished its presence in various cities and constituencies, and has even won seats in rural areas. The statement also indicated that several members of its General Secretariat who were candidates were elected, with the exception of one member.
Linking Election Outcomes to Opposition Performance
The party linked the election results to what it described as its continuous efforts during its time in opposition, as well as the campaign it conducted. The leadership of Abdelilah Benkirane in this campaign was praised, along with the efforts of party members, candidates, and organizational committees during the electoral process.
One of the key points raised in the statement was the party's belief that the results revealed imbalances in the current electoral system. The PJD highlighted specific constituencies such as Skhirat-Témara, Meknes, Salé city, Salé new, Tangier, and the southern and northern regions of Fez, arguing that the elimination of the electoral threshold and the current electoral quotient affected its chances of gaining additional seats. Furthermore, the party criticized the reliance on regional lists instead of national lists, asserting that this has adversely impacted its results in these categories.
Additionally, the party addressed accusations of some candidates using money to sway voters and the confusion observed during the process of delivering voting reports. It noted that some authorities and heads of polling stations refused to promptly hand over the reports to representatives of the nomination lists, announcing its intention to file legal complaints in cases deemed violations of the law.
Regarding the party's position in the upcoming phase, the General Secretariat indicated that its interpretation of the announced results leads to the conclusion that the natural role of the PJD is to continue fulfilling its duties from the perspective of national opposition, while advocating for issues it considers a priority. In this context, the General Secretariat has decided to convene an extraordinary National Council meeting to discuss the results of the House of Representatives elections and to make suitable decisions. The party has already announced that this session will take place on Saturday, September 26, in Bouznika.
The General Secretariat also expressed regret over the low voter turnout, attributing it to various factors including what it termed as the devaluation of political and party work, criticism of government performance, as well as the phenomenon of party-hopping and electoral practices it claims are against the law.
As reported by hnews.ma.
