Appearing on Le 360’s Grand Format, Driss El Azami El Idrissi, first deputy secretary-general of the Justice and Development Party (PJD), expressed optimism about his party’s prospects in the legislative elections scheduled for Wednesday, September 23, as it faces competition from the PAM, Istiqlal and RNI.
“We are aiming for first place. And why not? We have the support of a large part of society,” said the former minister delegate in charge of the Budget in Abdelilah Benkirane’s first government.
This ambition comes as the PJD goes through a period of rebuilding after its number of seats fell from 125 in 2016 to 13 in the 2021 legislative elections. Driss El Azami El Idrissi had already said that his party was working to return to the top ranks, while acknowledging some responsibility for its electoral decline.
According to the PJD official, his party intends to put itself in a position to take part in discussions on forming the next government. Any alliance, however, would have to be based on the electoral commitments of the Lamp party.
“The planned alliance is only possible if it is in line with our electoral commitments,” the party’s number two stressed. Decisions on coalitions will, in line with the position already outlined by Driss El Azami El Idrissi, have to be made by the PJD’s leadership bodies after the election results are announced.
Asked about names that could one day succeed Abdelilah Benkirane as party leader, Driss El Azami El Idrissi refused to speculate. “I have nothing to say about that. It is the party that decides, not the lottery,” he replied.
The PJD’s first priorities after the September 23 vote include fighting conflicts of interest, corruption, the rising cost of living and intermediaries referred to as “farkchiyas.” Driss El Azami El Idrissi accused the latter of contributing to the disappearance of 280 million dirhams intended as public aid for consumers.
Reforms to public education and healthcare are also among the main measures the PJD says it would defend if it returned to government after the two terms led by the party beginning in 2012 and 2016.
Driss El Azami El Idrissi also rejected criticism that the PJD’s electoral program is based mainly on a negative assessment of the outgoing government’s record, without quantified targets for growth, employment, tax revenues or major economic balances.
According to him, his party’s program also includes proposals covering the economy and social justice, as well as advancing women’s rights, freedoms, culture, the arts and artificial intelligence.
The PJD’s first deputy secretary-general also strongly criticized the RNI’s record at the head of the outgoing government. In particular, he denounced what he considers to be a gap between the Executive’s actions and citizens’ everyday concerns. The PJD had already placed conflicts of interest, private investment and social difficulties at the center of its criticism of the government.
Regarding his campaign in Skhirat, Driss El Azami El Idrissi also expressed optimism while acknowledging the intensity of the electoral competition in the constituency.
“I left first, just after the electoral campaign began. I will hold firm, knowing that on Tuesday the local population will organize a major rally chaired by the party’s secretary-general, Abdelilah Benkirane,” he said, calling on voters to turn out in large numbers.
With two days to go before the vote, Driss El Azami El Idrissi presents the PJD as a party seeking an electoral comeback and prepared to take part in future alliances, provided they respect its commitments.
The party has placed the fight against the rising cost of living, conflicts of interest and the deterioration of public services at the center of its campaign. Voters will now decide between this platform and those put forward by the other parties contesting the election.
