PARTY FOR PROGRESS AND SOCIALISM LEADER STRESSES

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 RABAT 000680

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR NEA/MAG

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/11/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL MO
SUBJECT: PARTY FOR PROGRESS AND SOCIALISM LEADER STRESSES
ANTI-CORRUPTION ELECTION FOCUS


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


1. (C) Summary: Ismail Alaoui, leader of the (leftist)
Party for Progress and Socialism (PPS),and Minister of
Communication Benabdallah, told the Ambassador April 4 their
party had an election platform heavily focused on combating
corruption. The formerly communist PPS is a member of the
governing coalition. Alaoui and Benabdallah complained that
the Islamist PJD was highjacking their signature issue,
corruption. The PPS, while not a large political force,
appears primed to be an active player in the next government
coalition, which they predicted will not include the Islamist
PJD. End Summary.


2. (SBU) With the backdrop of Morocco,s next legislative
election, Ambassador met April 4 with PPS secretary general
Ismail Alaoui and Minister of Communication (and PPS
executive committee member) Nabil Benabdallah to discuss
preparations for September's ballot as well party plans to
increase voter participation. The PPS, a relatively left
pro-throne party with a Communist pedigree, practices a
significant degree of pragmatism and is one of the more
sophisticated political parties in Morocco.

Preparing An Anti-Corruption Focused Campaign
--------------


3. (C) PPS leader Alaoui said his party's campaign platform
will center on three primary pillars: combating corruption,
creating jobs, and improving living conditions; but will be
heavily tilted towards anti-corruption themes. Alaoui
underscored that corruption exist at all levels of society.
However, he said this was not the case at the Minister level
(which drew some chuckles from Benabdallah),and explained
police and judicial courts are where the two main problems
lie. He said judicial corruption was worse; the Ambassador
disagreed, saying low-level police corruption affected the
group that could afford it the least - the very poorest
Moroccans. PPS leaders agreed corruption can not be solved
in one fell swoop. The party will concentrate
anti-corruption efforts on particular sectors where it can
have a positive impact. Small-scale corruption may be
acceptable in the short-term, explained Benabdallah, but
corruption within critical institutions, such as the
judiciary, is "unacceptable" and threatens the stability of
Morocco.

Election Date May Hurt Voter Turnout
--------------


4. (C) Alaoui lamented the government's decision to hold
elections in early September, rather than in July. Alaoui
and Benabdallah maintained that the September date,
coinciding with the end of summer vacations and the beginning
of the school year and Ramadan, will negatively effect
turnout. Nonetheless, he assured the Ambassador the PPS is
actively working on its strategy to engage and mobilize
youth, taking into account these extenuating factors.


5. (C) PPS leaders suggested that the large community of
Moroccans citizens living abroad (MREs) would play a role in
the upcoming election. Benabdallah, however, indicated that
because of practical impediments, only a small number of MREs
of voting age, estimated at roughly two million, will take
part in September's election. MREs must physically appear in
their district of registration on Election Day in order to
vote, he explained. Benabdallah speculated that a few
well-organized MRE communities willing to make the trip could
skew certain districts, but will not have a noticeable impact
on the overall results (alluding to the PJD's perceived
strength among certain MRE communities). (Note: Moroccan TV
is carrying advertising spots aimed at MREs urging them to
vote at their embassies. End Note.)

PJD Hijacking Corruption Issue
--------------


6. (C) Turning to the Islamist Party for Justice and
Development (PJD),Benabdallah said "just because you have a
beard does not mean you can lecture us" on corruption,
referring to the PPS's long track record on fighting
corruption. Despite their rhetoric, the PJD turns a blind
eye on pervasive contraband and drug black markets, which
Benabdallah claimed has profited the PJD and is managed by
"Islamists with beards." The PPS plans to awaken the
population to this reality, he said.

RABAT 00000680 002 OF 002




7. (C) Benabdallah said, "we are not scared of the PJD," but
admitted that the PJD's anticipated gains could inject a
"political shock" into Moroccan politics. He cautioned that
the real PJD is not what appears on the surface. Benabdallah
recalled an incident where PJD parliamentarians voted against
several Palace proposed laws, equating to "a sort of
declaration of war," he said.

Ruling Majority Unlikely to Change
--------------


8. (C) Benabdallah predicted that the current ruling
government majority (which includes the USFP, Istiqlal, UMP,
RNI, and PPS) would remain in power following September's
ballot. He excluded the possibility of the PPS joining a
coalition with the PJD - citing irreconcilable ideological
differences. He expected the King to name the next Prime
Minister, noting the nomination will reveal the true
orientation of the next government.

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


9. (C) The PPS is not a political heavyweight, with only 22
of 325 seats in parliament's lower house and just 1 minister.
In contrast to their Coalition partners (USFP and Istiqlal),
the PPS appears well-prepared and focused on September's
electoral race. The party has targeted campaign issues that
have traction with a large number of voters, and seems well
on its way to developing a comprehensive election strategy.
Nevertheless, we believe the PPS will not gain many seats, if
it manages to hold on to what it has. It will almost
certainly opt again to join a coalition as it wants to be a
player in the next government. End Comment.

******************************************
Visit Embassy Rabat's Classified Website;
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/rabat
******************************************

RILEY