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The Justice and Development Party (Arabic: حزب العدالة والتنمية‎) (French: Parti de la Justice et du Développement, abbreviated to PJD) is the largest opposition political party in Morocco. The PJD promotes Islamism and Islamic democracy.

[edit] History

The party was founded by Dr. Abdelkrim Al Khatib an old politician known for his close ties with the Monarchy, under the name of MPDC (French: Mouvement populaire démocratique et constitutionnel). The party was an empty shell for many years, until various members of a clandestine association Chabiba islamia, who later formed the MUR (French: Mouvement unité et réforme) joined the party, with the authorisation and encouragement of former interior minister Driss Basri. It later changed its name to current PJD in 1998, reminiscent of the better known Turkish Justice and Development Party (Adalet ve Kalkınma Partisi, AKP) which was founded three years later in 2001, however. It should be noted that the Moroccan PJD is less liberal and modern than the Turkish AKP, although a very slow modernisation process is going on.

[edit] Parliamentary representation

In the parliamentary election, held on 27 September 2002, the party won 42 out of 325 seats, winning most of the districts where it was allowed to compete. Its secretary-general since 2004 is Saadeddine Othmani, deputy of Inezgane, an outer suburb of Agadir. In the parliamentary election held on 7 September 2007, the PJD won 46 out of 325 seats, behind the Istiqlal Party, which won 52. This was contrary to expectations that the PJD would win the most seats.^[1]

[edit] Ideology

The party had a tradition of publishing violent diatribes in the newspaper of the MUR (Attajdid), focusing its criticism on the Westernisation of Moroccan society (for example manners, women, clothing, social conduct), but not on the monarchy per se, as this is still a taboo subject in Morocco. However, since the 2003 Casablanca bombings it has considerably softened its criticism, and has adopted a lower profile and a more pragmatic attitude. The party's political and social program is considered by some to be vague, especially in its attitude towards civil liberties.

[edit] References

v • d • e Political parties in Morocco Major parties Independence Party - Justice and Development Party - National Rally of Independents - Socialist Union of Popular Forces - Authenticity and Modernity Party Medium parties Popular Movement - National Popular Movement - Constitutional Union - Front of Democratic Forces - Party of Progress and Socialism - Democratic Union - National Democratic Party - Democratic and Social Movement - Labour Party - Party of Renewal and Equity - Socialist Party - Moroccan Union for Democracy - Citizenship and Development Initiative - Party of Renaissance and Virtue - National Congress Party - Democratic Socialist Avant-garde Party - United Socialist Party Minor parties Reform and Development Party - Party of the Unified Socialist Left - Liberal Moroccan Party - Citizens' Forces - Democratic Independence Party - Action Party - Social Centre Party - Party of Hope - Party of al-Badil al-Hadari - Democratic Socialist Party - Party of Liberty and Social Justice Portal:Politics - List of political parties - Politics of Morocco