NDI: UNCLE SAM WANTS TO "EDUCATE" MOROCCAN

UNCLAS RABAT 001483

SIPDIS

SIPDIS
SENSITIVE

STATE FOR NEA/MAG, NEA/PI

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PINR MO
SUBJECT: NDI: UNCLE SAM WANTS TO "EDUCATE" MOROCCAN
POLITICAL PARTIES?



1. This cable is sensitive but unclassified. Please protect
accordingly.


2. (SBU) Summary: French-language daily, l'Economiste (August
1),published an article about the "American-Canadian"
National Democratic Institute (NDI),entitled "An NGO to
'educate' the parties." The article, which included an
interview with the director of NDI Morocco, Gerard Latulippe,
presented NDI's mission and analysis of party politics in
Morocco. Latulippe stressed the absence of a national vision
from Moroccan political parties in the current political
environment and emphasized that parties must adapt to
increased public expectations. He commended the Party of
Justice and Development (PJD) for being the "only" political
party in Morocco to be organized on the national level. The
interview clearly expressed that NDI does not wish to pass
judgment on political parties or "impose" change, but rather
supports the change already underway in Morocco. Media
reaction from the Socialist Union of Popular Forces (USFP)
party French-language daily, Liberation (August 2),and their
Arabic-language daily, Al Ittihad Al Ishtiraqi (August 2),
however, criticized the interview for being patronizing and
reflecting a "deep ignorance" of Moroccan history. The USFP
papers denounced Latulippe for demonstrating his "choices and
preferences" for the 2007 elections and "overstepping" NDI's
mandate and claim of objectivity. End Summary.

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Modernizing Party Politics
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3. (SBU) In the interview with Gerard Latulippe, resident
director of NDI Morocco, l'Economiste states that the goal of
NDI is to teach political parties modern communication
techniques and marketing to "seduce their electors." (NOTE:
NDI Morocco operates in part under its MEPI-financed
cooperative agreement under USAID's Consortium for Electoral
and Political Process Strengthening (CEPPS). END NOTE.)
Latulippe is quoted as wanting to introduce programs that
will encourage the "interaction between citizens and their
representatives," encourage women's political participation,
and increase the level of ethics in the administration.
Latulippe claimed that political parties lack a national
vision because electoral campaigns used to be organized by
constituency, which meant that candidates were elected
locally based on "specific references" and not for their
electoral programs.


4. (SBU) He noted that many parties overlap because they
"have not been required to differentiate themselves"
historically, but affirmed that "this is in the process of
changing," as public expectations are higher than they were.
Latulippe commented that the larger, traditional parties have
realized that they must create a "new momentum" to ensure
2007 will be a "year of change," representing a "rupture with
the current approach." Latulippe noted that the interest
level in NDI's offerings is "unequal" among political
parties, however, he claimed that more and more parties
continue to solicit NDI's activities as the election nears.
He noted the creation of internal committees in several
political parties dedicated to the organization of an
electoral campaign for 2007.

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Latulippe on Political Parties
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5. (SBU) Latulippe commended the PJD as the "only party"
which has not "hesitated to adhere to modernity," and has
organized itself on a national level. Latulippe reported
that according to his information, the Koutla, or democratic
bloc alliance between the USFP, Istiqlal, and the Party of
Progress and Socialism (PPS),will have their own
organizations and will be running autonomous electoral
campaigns. (NOTE: On July 26, the Koutla signed a joint
declaration to coordinate efforts in preparation for the 2007
legislative elections "in a constructive unionist spirit."
END NOTE.)


6. (SBU) When asked about his predictions for the 2007
election, Latulippe responded that he was "more optimistic
than six months ago." He explained that in his view more
politicians will enjoy popular legitimacy and that election

day could result in a "theater of surprises." He noted that
the transformation currently taking root in certain political
parties could prove fruitful.

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Media Criticism of Interview
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7. (SBU) USFP's French-language daily, Liberation, and their
Arabic-language daily, Al Ittihad Al Ishtiraqi, published
critical responses to the l'Economiste interview on August 2.
The Al Ittihad Al Ishtiraqi column claimed that although
Latulippe has the right to his own opinions and to "think he
has enough information on Moroccan political parties to
become an expert, he is not allowed at all, in a sovereign
country that has a long history in democratic struggle, to
have the 'guts' to describe the national parties as 'not
political' and think any political party needs his advice."
Al Ittihad Al Ishtiraqi argued that Latulippe lacks a "real"
understanding of Morocco's democratic transition because he
was born in a democratic country and the fact that he is
taking "his red pen and giving grades and ranks is not
acceptable." The Al Ittihad Al Ishtiraqi article concluded
by saying that even if Latulippe "has choices and
preferences," he has to learn, just like "any other American
institution," to "keep (them) to himself."


8. (SBU) The Liberation front page commentary, entitled
"NDI: Mistake of Cooperation," emphasized that his interview
was full of judgment, despite his claim of objectivity, and
that his analysis reflected his "choices and preferences" for
the 2007 election. In response to Latulippe's comment that
political parties lack a national vision and that,
traditionally, only local elite have had access power,
Liberation said Latulippe demonstrated a "flagrant ignorance"
of Morocco's history of rich political opposition and that he
should have "at least" consulted the Equity and
Reconciliation Commission (IER) report before "his 'electoral
pets' had contact with the masses." Liberation, making a
reference to the IRI controversy, stated that "the Moroccan
people do not have short memories, and no sponsored or
organized polls will substitute for its will."

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Latulippe's Reaction to Media Criticism
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9. (SBU) On August 2, Poloff met with Latulippe to discuss,
among other issues, his interview with l'Economiste.
Latulippe explained that while the initial media criticism of
his interview was unexpected, he understood how his comments
could be misinterpreted. Elaborating on his comments
regarding the absence of national vision from political
parties, Latulippe said that no political party has the
experience of running a national electoral campaign or
developing a national campaign message. Most party expertise
lies in the organization and execution of local electoral
campaigns, he explained. He, however, noted that the PJD,
because it is organized at the national level, is well-placed
to run a national election campaign. Latulippe argued that
the PJD vote is "soft" and warned of a potential PJD weakness
in rural areas.


10. (SBU) Recalling the recent visit of Jason Kenney, a
Member of the Canadian House of Commons, Latulippe explained
that Kenney held individual sessions with several political
parties on the technical aspects of running an electoral
campaign. According to Latulippe, whereas most political
parties sent only senior party representatives and were
questioning the merits of running a national electoral
campaign, the PJD sent their election team. This team asked
technical implementation questions during their session.
Latulippe said that the PPS, the Popular Movement Union
(UMP),Al Ahd, the National Rally of Independents (RNI),and
the USFP are now in the process of forming their respective
election teams, which is a positive sign and might lead to
"surprises" if the campaigns are conducted effectivelyQ

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Comment
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11. (SBU) Although the l'Economiste article features a

front-page cartoon entitled, "Uncle Sam wants to 'educate'
our political parties," which insinuates US heavy-handedness
with respect to the direction of political parties, the paper
clearly explained that NDI does not intervene in party
platforms, nor does it pass judgment on political parties.
One of the roles for NDI is to "push the dynamic unleashed by
Morocco," according to Latulippe, and NDI activities "support
the democratic process unleashed by the king."
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RILEY