HENAN HARIT

Morocco- Some Moroccan political parties have achieved equal representation in the general elections held in the country on September 8, 2021.

In Morocco, after the Arab Spring events that started in 2011, democratic elections were held in the country, and the Party of Justice and Development (PJD), a conservative Islamic-democratic party, was the ruling party of Morocco from 2011 to 2021. But the party just won 13 seats in the country’s 2021 general elections. Despite its defeat, nine out of its 13 members of parliament are women.

Party of Progress and Socialism won 23 seats in the House of Representatives and 12 of them are women. These figures show that some parties achieved equal representation in the elections.

Fatima Zahra Barasat, a member of the Party of Progress and Socialism, spoke to our news agency about the Moroccan general elections held on September 8. “90 seats are reserved for women within the scope of the positive discrimination (quota) while 60 seats were reserved for women and 30 seats for youth before. In 2021 general elections, first and second places were reserved for women.”

They struggle for equality

Fatima Zahra Barasat mentioned that they are waiting for the official announcement to know the number of female parliamentarians in the parliament. “The number of female representatives increases in Morocco. The result of the elections is optimistic but we have a long way to go in order to achieve total equality. We have to struggle to achieve equal representation in elections.”

Fatima Zahra Barasat noted that there are several factors that must be met to achieve equality in the Legislative Council. “The injustice practices against women should be ended and women should have all the means and mechanisms to run for elections.

“They are important developments”

Bouchra Abdo, a human rights activist and president of the Association for Equality, also commented on the general elections held on September 8. “Moroccan women have the power to take part in decision-making mechanisms like men. However, their demand for equality is ignored by the current patriarchal society. We were able to achieve these results thanks to new election laws and the struggle of women.”