Justice and Development Party Enters the Race for Rabat Ocean Constituency
The Moroccan political scene is heating up as the Justice and Development Party (PJD) officially announces its candidate for the upcoming by-election in the Rabat Ocean constituency. This follows the vacancy created by the Constitutional Court’s decision to remove the previous representative, Abdel Rahim Ouassalam from the National Rally of Independents (RNI) party.
The PJD has put forward Abdel Samad Abu Zahir as their candidate. He will be facing off against two other contenders: Farouk El Mdaouar, representing the Federation of the Democratic Left (FGD), and Saad Benmbarek, a prominent figure in the RNI. Benmbarek is widely believed to have the backing of the RNI’s leader, Aziz Akhannouch, and is expected to receive support from other majority parties.
This by-election, scheduled for September 12, 2024, is generating significant interest as it will test the political waters in the Rabat Ocean constituency. The outcome could offer insights into the evolving dynamics between the PJD, now in the opposition, and the ruling coalition led by the RNI.
The vacancy arose after the Constitutional Court stripped Ouassalam of his parliamentary membership due to a final court ruling against him in a case involving a bounced check. This decision triggered the by-election according to Article 91, Clause 5 of the Moroccan House of Representatives’ bylaws.
The upcoming election promises to be a closely watched contest, reflecting the broader political landscape in Morocco.
