HANAN HARİT

Morocco - There is more than 30 political parties in Morocco. The Moroccan Liberal Party is one of them; the party didn’t participate in the general elections held in 2016 claiming that the elections were not “democratic elections. We spoke to Moroccan Liberal Party member Dalal Mini about the general elections to be held this year in the country. These elections will be a new experience for Dala Mini, who entered politics with the Moroccan Liberal Party in 2017. “I entered in politics because I think the Moroccan citizens’ participation in politics is very low,” Dala Mini said.

“Our main demand is to meet the losses”

Drawing attention to the economic crisis deepening in the country due to the coronavirus pandemic, Dala Mini said, “The effects of the pandemic will, of course, also affect the participation in the elections; we have extreme concerns about this issue. One of our main demands is to meet the losses of the citizens due to the pandemic. We need a political approach that can organize, manage and design the right economic development by prioritizing the citizens. We believe we can do this. We will be a new breath in economic development and politics.”

“Everyone must do their part”

Talking about the upcoming general and local elections in the country, Dala Mini said, “Surely, the political parties should take their responsibilities. This is important for the success of democracy in the country. The Moroccans need consistent, accurate, and realistic electoral programs instead of slogans and empty promises. We must develop our country together and hand in hand, and everyone, including political parties, must do their part.”

“Women yearn for equal opportunities in politics”

Dala Mini criticized the low women’s participation in politics in the country. “We don’t have equal opportunities in politics and women yearn for having equal opportunities in politics. This cannot happen without struggling against patriarchal mentalities and without changing the cultural, social, and economic realities. There is a one-third quota system for women; this system is a new opportunity to see strong women at the local level. The quota system is important to close the gender gap. However, there is a deep-rooted patriarchal mentality that prevents this system in political parties. Despite everything, this system is important to increase women’s participation in politics.