Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07CASABLANCA117
2007-06-22 16:38:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Consulate Casablanca
Cable title:  

ELECTIONS WILL NOT AFFECT MOROCCAN ECONOMY

Tags:  ECON EFIN KDEM MO 
pdf how-to read a cable
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RUEHYD/AMEMBASSY YAOUNDE 0073
C O N F I D E N T I A L CASABLANCA 000117 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR NEA/MAG AND NEA/PI

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/21/2017
TAGS: ECON EFIN KDEM MO
SUBJECT: ELECTIONS WILL NOT AFFECT MOROCCAN ECONOMY

Classified By: Principal Officer Doug Greene for reasons 1.4 (B) AND
(D)

REF: RABAT 00852

C O N F I D E N T I A L CASABLANCA 000117

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR NEA/MAG AND NEA/PI

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/21/2017
TAGS: ECON EFIN KDEM MO
SUBJECT: ELECTIONS WILL NOT AFFECT MOROCCAN ECONOMY

Classified By: Principal Officer Doug Greene for reasons 1.4 (B) AND
(D)

REF: RABAT 00852


1. (SBU) SUMMARY: In general, Casablancans feel that Morocco's
political parties lack well-defined economic platforms as they go
into the final three months before the September parliamentary
election. This is due in part to the fact that many parties are old
and have no tradition of presenting economic programs. In addition,
only the educated elite, not average citizens, expect parties to
detail economic plans. A few parties, however, are seeking
information on the economy and have begun to outline economic
programs. Nevertheless, our interlocutors stress, it is the King and
his ministers, not parliament, who determine economic policy, and
Moroccans do not believe elections will impact the economy. Those
with a role in creating economic platforms seem to believe that the
value is as much in going through the motions as providing a coherent
economic plan. END SUMMARY.

--------------
PARTIES LACK ECONOMIC PLATFORMS
--------------


2. (SBU) Many Casablancans feel that political parties preparing for
parliamentary elections in early September do not have well-defined
economic platforms. Some attribute this to the fact that many of
Morocco's more prominent parties are nearly fifty years old, and have
not had economic platforms in the past. As one Moroccan put it, "Why
start now?"


3. (SBU) Not only are the parties old, but so are their leaders.
According to one young attorney, parties are often controlled by
elderly figures who 'still live in the Stone Age.' While candidates
may talk broadly about issues such as unemployment and inflation,
they generally do not have well-articulated, concrete programs.


4. (C) The lack of economic platforms may also reflect the feeling
that only the educated and elite are interested in such things. The
average Moroccan cares more about purchasing power and the cost of
living than encouraging investment and increasing GDP. The attorney
mentioned above anticipates that some candidates will buy votes from
people in poor areas, as they have done in the past. Such people

will care little about electoral processes and economic programs, but
will appreciate the twenty dollars they might get for their vote.

--------------
SOME PARTIES OUTLINE ECONOMIC AGENDAS
--------------


5. (SBU) Though Moroccans are generally skeptical that parties have
economic platforms, certain parties do seem to be creating programs.
The President of the Center for Young Business Leaders (CJD) says
that many party officials have come to his organization to learn
about projects and talk to entrepreneurs. In addition, several
parties, including the center-left Socialist Union of Popular Forces
(USFP),have invited the CJD to share their economic insight.
Similarly, an individual who works in financial services has been
asked by a friend to participate in an economic brainstorming session
with the nationalist Istiqlal party. Even if most parties are not
expected to present detailed economic plans, some are certainly
making an effort to learn about Morocco's economic outlook.


6. (SBU) A few parties have publicly presented their economic
platforms. On June 15, the journal L'Economiste published a four-page
article entitled, "Istiqlal: Details of the Economic Program." In
the article, Nazar Baraka of the party's executive committee explains
the program and answers questions. On June 18, L'Economiste outlined
the economic plan of the center-left labor party, Le Parti
Travailliste (PT). The plan's creator, Hammad Kassal, is not only
President of the PT's economic and financial commission, but also an
experienced entrepreneur and Vice President of the Confederation of
Moroccan Enterprises (CGEM),a powerful business-interest group.

--------------
ELECTIONS NOT EXPECTED TO IMPACT ECONOMY
--------------

7. (SBU) Whether or not parties present economic platforms, there is
widespread belief among Casablancans that this year's parliamentary
elections will not affect the economy, regardless of outcome. To
begin with, Moroccans expect little from elections since the King
appoints all ministers and has the final word in matters such as
setting economic policy. In essence, his choices and views are more
significant than party platforms.


8. (SBU) Because of the palace's power, many find no correlation
between politics and economics in Morocco. A young Moroccan who
works in the banking sector noted that in India, for example, a
change in parliament would cause the stock market to rise. No such
phenomenon exists in Morocco, where people do not believe that
parliament could make a difference. Furthermore, parliamentarians
are not in the habit of debating complex economic issues, or creating
and lobbying for elaborate plans, as this process happens elsewhere
in the government.


9. (C) COMMENT: On the whole, political parties in Morocco do not
offer well-defined economic programs and voters do not expect them
to. The only individuals who seem to put stock in economic platforms
are those with a role in crafting them. Hammad Kassal, for example,
says he hopes political parties will make a difference, though he
acknowledges that many are old and lack content. Similarly, Baraka
says that even though voters tend to ignore platforms, his party will
present them nonetheless. While the Casablancans we spoke with
believe that economic platforms and elections will change nothing,
there are a few among them who hold out hope that, by going through
the motions of creating genuine programs, change might eventually
come. END COMMENT.

GREENE