AMBASSADOR DISCUSSES ELECTION PREPARATIONS WITH

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 RABAT 000675

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR NEA/MAG

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/09/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL MO
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR DISCUSSES ELECTION PREPARATIONS WITH
USFP, ISTIQLAL, AND UMP LEADERS

Classified By: AMB Thomas T. Riley for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (C) Summary: With Morocco,s next legislative election
fast approaching, the Ambassador called on leaders of the
three largest parties in the ruling coalition to discuss
preparations for September's ballot as well party plans to
increase voter participation, particularly among youth. All
three party leaders outlined programs based on combating
unemployment, increasing investment, and boosting the
efficiency of social services. We were struck by the
undercurrents of complacency, entitlement, and lack of
urgency among these aging party leaders. End Summary.


2. (SBU) In the course of a round of calls on key political
party leaders, the Ambassador met April 3 with Socialist
Union of Popular Forces (USFP) party leader and Minister of
Territorial Development, Water, and Environment Mohamed El
Yazghi. He saw April 4 Istiqlal party leader and Minister of
State Abbas El Fassi. On April 11, he met with Popular
Movement Union (UMP) president Mahjoubi Aherdane and Minister
of Agriculture and UMP secretary general Mohand Laenser. This
round of calls, building on similar discussions last year
with leading political party figures, is part of the
Mission's elections plan. Other meetings will be reported
septel.

Election Platforms, In Development
--------------


3. (C) Commenting on his party's preparations, USFP
Secretary General Mohamed El Yazghi noted that several

SIPDIS
sub-committees are in the process of preparing the USFP's
national campaign platform. El Yazghi previewed key themes
of the strategy as combating unemployment, increasing
investment, and improving the efficiency of social services,
including in the water sector. El Yazghi stressed the USFP's
stepped up efforts to engage youth, including actively
seeking out and integrating youth ideas in to the party's
electoral strategy. Profiting from the Internet, the USFP
has called for campaign suggestions on the party's website
and members of the party's executive bureau have held live
web chat sessions in an attempt to attract youth.


4. (C) Similarly, Istiqlal Secretary General Abbas El Fassi
said his party has initiated several working groups to
develop a comprehensive campaign strategy. El Fassi noted
his intensified personal outreach efforts, including visits
to rural Istiqlal branch offices each weekend, intended to
reinforce Istiqlal's image among potential voters. He
revealed that Istiqlal has begun an internal candidate
selection process for the upcoming election, based on a point
system that incorporates a range of categories;
responsibility within the party, length of time as a member,
age, and external party activities. The new method has been
well received by Istiqlal candidates and highlights the
(nascent) internal democracy of the party, he stressed.


5. (C) For their part, UMP leaders said the party's election
plan will focus on rural development, among other issues.
UMP secretary general Laenser noted the necessity of working
quickly to have a meaningful impact on Election Day.
Stressing the tribal roots of Moroccan society, party
president Aherdane confirmed that the party has its sights on
gaining seats in urban districts, while maintaining its rural
base. The largest challenge for the UMP will be message
exposure, explained Laenser, because its supporters heavily
rely on oral communication to spread information.

USFP's Successful Rose Festival Reaches Out To Youth
-------------- --------------


6. (C) El Yazghi described the USFP-organized Spring Rose
Festival, held in Casablanca March 30 and April 1, as an
overwhelming and "unimaginable" success, particularly in
terms of youth participation. Unlike past events that did
not resonate well among youth, this year's festival (the
first of its kind for the USFP) included various musical
performances and a pavilion showcasing cultural and political
aspects specific to Morocco,s 16 regions. El Yazghi claimed
the two-day festival attracted over 200,000 attendees, mostly
youth. (NB: Press reports over 100,000 attended the festival,
featuring Morocco's top hip-hop and rock-fusion musicians.)

Lack Of Urgency Apparent In Leaders
--------------


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7. (C) USFP leader Yazghi emphasized the importance of large
voter turnout at September's election and expressed hoped
that overall participation would reach at least sixty
percent. (Note: According to the Ministry of Interior, voter
turnout in the 2002 legislative election was at 52 percent.
End Note.) El Yazghi, however, believed the party's positive
performance within government during the past five years will
secure a large number of votes for the USFP in the next
election.


8. (C) Despite a history of tainted elections, Istiqlal
leader Fassi noted the party's confidence in the King's
efforts to ensure transparent and legitimate elections. (NB:
In late 2006, El Fassi protested selective prosecution of
Istiqlal members for vote buying in the upper house
elections, when members of the Justice Minster's USFP escaped
punishment.) He maintained that this year's election would
surpass 2002 as the freest and fairest elections on record in
Morocco. Istiqlal, blessed with an unwavering base support
structure, has the largest presence in Morocco, covering 1300
out of Morocco's 1500 communes, according to El Fassi.
Istiqlal's election rhetoric, like in previous campaigns,
targets voters who have historically associated themselves
with the party's nationalist line; it takes no fresh
approaches.


9. (C) UMP president Laenser does not predict, based on
party studies, a large power shift within Moroccan politics
following September's ballot. Laenser added that the current
ruling government majority is stable and has coalesced around
centrist policies derived by consensus, noting that the bulk
of Morocco's privatization has occurred under a
socialist-affiliated minister. The UMP does not envision any
problems continuing its relationship with the current
government, said Laenser

Potential PJD Coalition: USFP Denial, But UMP Open
-------------- --------------


10. (C) Turning to potential USFP coalition partners, El
Yazghi vehemently denied rumors that the USFP has considered
an alliance with the Islamist Party for Justice and
Development (PJD). (Note: PJD Executive Bureau member and
parliamentarian Lachen Daoudi was quoted March 26 in local
press as saying, "We are ready to govern with the USFP." End
Note.) Yazghi countered, "they have attacked us for years
and say we are corrupt, why would we join forces with them?"
The PJD claim of an alliance is propaganda and a political
tactic that reveals the "double language" nature of the
party, said El Yazghi.


11. (C) The UMP leadership, on the other hand, did not rule
out an alliance with the PJD, "should the situation present
itself." Recalling the history between the UMP and PJD,
Laenser said the two parties maintain friendly contact.
(Note: The Constitutional and Democratic Popular Movement
(MPDC) party, from which the PJD was born, was founded by
former members of Popular Movement party. End Note.) Aherdane
stressed that the PJD's rhetoric has evolved and the party
should not be judged by its past, but by its current reality.
Aherdane supported any alliance that would bring the PJD
into the government, noting this would effectively limit
extremism within that party.

Western Sahara
--------------


12. (C) Touching briefly on the Western Sahara, El Fassi
expressed optimism that a solution would be found to the
Western Sahara conflict. He applauded recent diplomatic
efforts undertaken by the King to garner support for
Morocco,s autonomy plan, and hoped that all parties would
reach a negotiated solution. Noting Istiqlal's long history
of activity in the territory, El Fassi said that the Western
Sahara of today is very different than the past, underscoring
a new generation has grown up under only a Moroccan presence.


13. (C) UMP leaders also believed important progress has
been made on the Western Sahara. They, however, stressed
that decisions on the Sahara will also have repercussions in
other regions of Morocco. Similarly, Aherdane opined that
Algeria does not support autonomy in part because of the
domestic consequences it would have in some regions of
Algerian. Aherdane stressed that Morocco has heavily
invested in the territory diplomatically, economically, and
emotionally, and can not afford "to lose it."

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Supportive of USG-Sponsored Training
--------------


14. (C) On USG-funded democracy and governance activities,
El Yazghi and El Fassi commended the work the Mission has
provided, particularly through the National Democratic
Institute and the International Republican Institute. El
Yazghi underscored that USFP was one of the first parties to
actively support the work of the institutes in Morocco, and
continues to welcome their activities because they help
foster positive change.

Comment
--------------


15. (C) We were struck by the undercurrents of complacency
and entitlement in the remarks made by the leadership of
Morocco's three largest parties in the ruling majority,
particularly El Fassi. They conveyed no sense of urgency
either towards their parties' campaigns or towards pressing,
potentially explosive domestic issues such as unemployment.
Interestingly, USFP and Istiqlal party leaders appeared
removed from the most pressing issues at the time of the
meetings; the transportation strike, which highlighted the
difficulties many Moroccans face meeting basic needs, as well
as the Ministry of Interior's opening on April 5 of the
election voter rolls for updating. At least the USFP is
giving some scope to its younger members, as shown by its
successful festival. Nevertheless, we believe these parties
will have to work overtime in order to avoid losing ground to
the Islamist PJD in the September election. End Comment.

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RILEY