Rabat – The Justice and Development Party (PJD) general secretariat said today it regrets the low voter turnout recorded in the legislative elections, describing it as the lowest since 2007.
Morocco’s legislative elections took place on Wednesday. Data from the Interior Ministry said 15 million people registered to vote, but only six million of those registered cast their ballots.
The turnout rate reached 38% at the end of the vote, the ministry added.
For PJD, this turnout is “a natural result of the devaluation of political and partisan work, the weak and confused performance of the current government, the extensive movement of politicians between the parties of the current governing majority ahead of the elections,” among other reasons.
PJD made its remarks in an extensive statement based on the party’s meeting chaired by secretary general Abdelilah Benkirane on Thursday. During the meeting, Benkirane announced the party will not join the Authenticity and Modernity Party’s (PAM) government.
PAM topped the legislative elections chart and won the elections with 97 seats.
On Thursday, Benkirane said there is no doubt his party will not be part of a party he accused of electoral fraud during the elections.
PJD’s secretariat echoed his remarks today, stating that it considers that the party’s natural position is to continue fulfilling its constitutional, political, and activist roles from the position of a “responsible and strong national opposition.”
The party said it is committed to continue “defending the national constants that unite the country, the causes of the nation, and the legitimate rights and expectations of citizens.”
PJD also commended the number of seats it secured during this year’s legislative elections, which amounted to 54 compared to 13 in the 2021 elections.
For PJD, this represents a source of pride for the party, recalling that the number of seats it secured this year increased by more than fourfold.
“The results also showed that the party had regained its popular base in large and medium sized cities, and won seats in predominantly rural electoral districts,” PJD said.
