Morocco’s Islamists call for poll boycott

RABAT

Anti-government protesters shout slogans during a rally organized by the pro-democracy February 20 movement in Casablanca in this file photo. AP photo

“We call on the Moroccan people to boycott this process based on lies and illusions,” the movement, which is not officially recognized but tolerated by the authorities, said in a statement.


 “We also call on Morocco’s political, intellectual and economic elite to follow the February 20 movement, which is the movement of the people.” The February 20 Movement, which takes its name from its first day of protest, was inspired by pro-democracy groups that have sprung up across the Arab world this year. Tuesday’s announcement is the latest boycott call of the November polls. In September Morocco’s opposition Unified Socialist Party announced that it would boycott the election, joining two far-left parties. Morocco’s parliamentary elections were due to be held in 2012 but were brought forward following a July 1 referendum in which voters overwhelmingly approved a package of reforms limiting the powers of King Mohammed VI. The referendum and early elections were an attempt by the 48-year-old leader of the Arab world’s oldest monarchy to pre-empt protests inspired by the “Arab Spring”. While critics argue that the new constitution shortchanged the people’s democratic aspirations, the king remains popular and mass street protests have subsided though the February 20 Movement continues to hold smaller demonstrations in cities. In September it brought thousands of supporters -- estimated by police at 5,000 and organizers at 15,000 -- into the streets of Casablanca for a demonstration to demand deep political reform. The marchers shouted for greater freedoms and an end to government corruption. Morocco was swept with popular protests calling for reform early in the year, inspired by the Arab Spring. King Mohammed VI later announced that his country will revise its constitution for the first time in 15 years. This caused the protests to die down until September this year. King Mohammed IV’s new constitution was passed in July and parliamentary elections are to be held in two months, but September’s protesters have denounced both.


Compiled from AP and AFP stories by the Daily News staff.