| Parliament name (generic / translated) |
Barlaman / Parliament |
| Structure of parliament |
Bicameral |
| Chamber name (generic / translated) |
Majliss-annouwab / House of Representatives |
| Related chamber (for bicameral parliaments) |
Majlis al-Mustacharin / House of Councillors
|
| BACKGROUND |
| Dates of election / renewal (from/to) |
7 September 2007 |
| Purpose of elections |
Elections were held for all the seats in the House of Representatives on the normal expiry of the members' term of office. |
The parliamentary elections that took place on 7 September 2007 were the second to be held under King Mohammed VI's reign.
In the previous elections held in September 2002
the centre-left Socialist Union of Popular Forces (USFP) came in first with 50 seats
as was the case in previous elections since 1997. The Istiqlal Party (PI) took 48 seats
while the opposition Justice and Development Party (PJD) took 42. King Mohammed VI named Mr. Driss Jetto as Prime Minister
who then formed a government comprising the same parties as the outgoing government: the USFP
the PI
the National Rally of Independents (RNI)
the Popular Movement (MP)
the Democratic Forces Front (FFD)
the Progress and Socialism Party (PPS)
and the Democratic Socialist Party (PSD). In all
the coalition government controlled 186 seats in the 325-member House of Representatives.
In 2007
candidates from 33 political parties and 13 groups of independent candidates stood for the elections. Most candidates promised to deal with social problems
such as unemployment
housing
education
and infrastructure. Many party programmes set numerical goals to be achieved before the end of the new legislature in 2012. The USFP promised to create two million jobs. The PI pledged to reduce the unemployment rate to less than 7 per cent. The MP said it would improve the education system
and adapt it to the needs of the job market. The PJD promised to create 300
000 jobs every year
and reduce poverty by half. Pre-election opinion polls indicated strong support for the PJD
which was expected to double its number of seats.
Only 37 per cent of the 15 million registered voters turned out at the polls
marking the lowest turnout in the kingdom's history.
Some 50 observers from other countries monitored the polls. They praised the spirit of transparency and professionalism observed throughout the entire election campaign. The PJD accused the parties in the outgoing government of buying votes
which they firmly denied.
The PI came in first with 52 seats
followed by the PJD with 46. The MP and the RNI took 41 and 39 seats respectively. The USFP
which had been the largest party in the previous parliament
arrived only in fifth position with 38 seats. In all
34 women were elected (including 30 under the national lists reserved for women).
The newly elected House of Representatives held its first session on 12 October. On 16 October
it elected Mustapha Mansouri (RNI) as its new Speaker.
In the meantime
on 19 September
King Mohammed VI named Mr. Abbas El-Fassi of the PI as Prime Minister. On 15 October
the King officially named the new 33-member cabinet
which included seven women. It comprised the PI
the USFP
the RNI and the PPS. The MP reportedly refused to join the new government. The PJD remained outside the government. |
| STATISTICS |
| Voter turnout |
| Round no 1 | 7 September 2007 |
Number of registered electors
Voters
Blank or invalid ballot papers
Valid votes |
15'510'505
37%
|
|
Notes
|
|
| Distribution of seats |
|
Round no 1
|
| Political Group |
Total
|
District seats |
Women seats |
Gain/Loss |
|
| Istiqlal Party (PI) |
52
|
46 |
6 |
4 |
|
| Justice and Development Party (PJD) |
46
|
40 |
6 |
4 |
|
| Popular Movement (MP) |
41
|
36 |
5 |
14 |
|
| National Rally of Independents (RNI) |
39
|
34 |
5 |
-2 |
|
| Socialist Union of Popular Forces (USFP) |
38
|
33 |
5 |
-12 |
|
| Constitutional Union (UC) |
27
|
27 |
0 |
11 |
|
| Progress and Socialism Party (PPS) |
17
|
14 |
3 |
6 |
|
| Union PND-Al Ahd and its allies |
14
|
14 |
0 |
|
|
| Democratic Forces Front (FFD) |
9
|
9 |
0 |
-3 |
|
| Democratic and social Movement (MDS) |
9
|
9 |
0 |
2 |
|
| Union PADS-CNI-PSU and its allies |
6
|
6 |
0 |
|
|
| Workers' Party (PT) |
5
|
5 |
0 |
|
|
| Environment and Development Party (PED) |
5
|
5 |
0 |
3 |
|
| Independents |
5
|
5 |
0 |
|
|
| Renewal and Equality Party (PRE) |
4
|
4 |
0 |
|
|
| Moroccan Union for Democracy (UMD) |
2
|
2 |
0 |
|
|
| Socialist Party (PS) |
2
|
2 |
0 |
|
|
| Alliance of Liberties (ADL) |
1
|
1 |
0 |
|
|
| Development and Citizenship Initiative (ICD) |
1
|
1 |
0 |
|
|
| Party of Renaissance and Virtue (PRV) |
1
|
1 |
0 |
|
|
| Citizenship Forces Party (PFC) |
1
|
1 |
0 |
-1 |
|
|
| Distribution of seats according to sex |
Men
Women
Percent of women |
291
34
10.46%
|
| Distribution of seats according to age |
21 to 30 years
31 to 40 years
41 to 50 years
51 to 60 years
61 to 70 years
Over 70 years
|
2
28
100
134
49
12
|
| Distribution of seats according to profession |
|
|
| Comments |
Note:
The "women's seats" refer to the 30 seats reserved for women. In addition
four women were elected from electoral districts
bringing the total number of women to 34.
Breakdown of the 14 seats won by the Union PND-ALAHD and its allies:
- Union PND-ALAHD: 9 seats.
- ALAHD Party: 3 seats.
- Democratic National Party (PND): 2 seats.
Breakdown of the six seats won by the Union PADS-CNI-PSU and its allies:
- Union PADS-CNI-PSU: 5 seats
- Ittihadi National Congress (CNI): 1 seat
The official results included the "SAP"
which stands for 'sans appartenance politique' in French
in other words
independents.
Sources:
- http://www.elections2007.gov.ma/index.aspx
- IPU Group (11.09.2007
25.02.2008) |
Compare data for parliamentary chambers in the Last elections module
