Rabat, Morocco – As Morocco prepares for parliamentary elections on September 23, political debate is centred much less on ideology and celebration programmes than on the choice of one of many nation’s most influential public officers to enter partisan politics.
The choice by Fouzi Lekjaa, Morocco’s minister delegate for the finances and president of the Royal Moroccan Soccer Federation (FRMF), to affix the Authenticity and Modernity Get together (PAM) has prompted intense debate throughout the political class and social media.
Finest identified for his position in public finance and the transformation of Moroccan soccer, Lekjaa constructed his popularity in public administration quite than electoral politics.
His transfer represents greater than a easy celebration affiliation. It displays a broader shift in Moroccan politics, the place managerial competence, state-led growth and nationwide status have gotten more and more essential sources of political legitimacy.
Mustafa Ahdar, a researcher in constitutional legislation and political science at Ibn Zohr College in Agadir, informed Al Jazeera that Lekjaa joined PAM lower than three months earlier than the elections, making the timing politically important.
“From a constitutional perspective, each Moroccan citizen is free to affix any political celebration underneath the 2011 Structure,” Ahdar mentioned, noting that former PAM secretary-general Abdellatif Ouahbi has publicly reaffirmed this precept.
“Nevertheless, somebody who concurrently heads the nationwide soccer federation and occupies a senior ministerial place can not realistically be considered in the identical approach as an abnormal citizen coming into politics.”
The timing issues for one more cause: the federal government shaped after the election will oversee Morocco’s preparations for the 2030 FIFA World Cup, which it’s going to cohost with Spain and Portugal.
With billions anticipated to be invested in infrastructure, transport and tourism, commentators have more and more described the following administration as Morocco’s “World Cup authorities”, one prone to be judged as a lot by its skill to ship the event as by conventional financial indicators.
From celebration politics to efficiency politics
Lekjaa’s rise displays a broader pattern in Morocco and past, the place profitable public officers are more and more changing into political belongings in their very own proper.
As finances minister, he grew to become intently related to main infrastructure and funding initiatives whereas rising as a central determine in Morocco’s soccer renaissance.
The Atlas Lions’ historic run to the semifinals of the 2022 FIFA World Cup reworked Morocco’s worldwide picture, strengthened its smooth energy throughout Africa and the Arab world, and made soccer an emblem of nationwide ambition and institutional effectiveness.
For Ahdar, nevertheless, the pattern raises deeper questions concerning the position of political events.
“Political events are alleged to create areas the place residents turn into politically engaged and future leaders emerge,” he mentioned. “When events more and more recruit influential personalities who’ve constructed their reputation exterior politics, they danger abandoning that mission.”
A altering citizens
Morocco’s political evolution additionally displays altering voter behaviour.
Turnout exceeded 50 % within the 2021 parliamentary elections, but practically half of eligible voters nonetheless abstained.
Many analysts argue that this displays scepticism in the direction of political events quite than an absence of political curiosity, significantly amongst youthful Moroccans, who more and more categorical their issues by way of social media activism and protests over unemployment, rising dwelling prices and public providers.
In keeping with Ahdar, the talk surrounding Lekjaa illustrates this shift.
“PAM is an element of the present governing coalition and faces criticism over its governmental file,” he mentioned. “But the talk at present is centred way more on Lekjaa’s arrival than on the celebration’s political programme or achievements.”
He famous that some social media customers had even joked that “Lekjaa attracted PAM quite than PAM attracting Lekjaa”, reflecting what he described because the rising personification of politics.
Morocco’s constitutional framework
Morocco’s 2011 Structure expanded the powers of parliament whereas sustaining the monarchy’s central position in authorities formation. Underneath Article 47, the king appoints the pinnacle of presidency from the celebration successful the most important variety of parliamentary seats.
Morocco’s proportional electoral system virtually at all times produces coalition governments, making post-election negotiations practically as essential because the vote itself.
Hypothesis over Lekjaa’s future political position has intensified, regardless of no official indication that he’s being thought of for head of presidency.
Ahdar additionally sees parallels with Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch, who entered partisan politics after establishing himself exterior conventional celebration buildings.
“This inevitably raises questions on inside celebration democracy,” he mentioned. “Many celebration activists spend years progressing by way of celebration ranks, whereas outsiders generally attain senior positions in a short time.”
He added that observers will naturally ask whether or not such strikes replicate real political conviction or primarily pragmatic political calculation.
The PAM issue
Based in 2008, PAM presents itself as a modernising political drive centered on institutional reform, regional growth and financial modernisation. The celebration has additionally confronted corruption and abuse-of-office controversies involving a few of its elected officers.
For PAM, recruiting a determine related to efficient governance and soccer success could reinforce its picture as a celebration of competence whereas serving to shift consideration from criticism of the governing coalition’s financial file.
Between legitimacy and expectations
Administrative competence can strengthen political credibility, however governing requires greater than managerial effectivity. Morocco continues to face main challenges, together with unemployment, schooling, healthcare, regional inequalities and rising dwelling prices.
Nouh El Harmouzi, head of the Arab Middle for Analysis, believes Lekjaa’s administrative profile nonetheless explains the eye surrounding his political transfer.
“Few senior officers mix his expertise in public finance, institutional administration and strategic planning,” he informed Al Jazeera.
“The following authorities will face monumental budgetary pressures alongside rising geopolitical and financial dangers whereas concurrently delivering one of many largest initiatives in Morocco’s fashionable historical past: the 2030 World Cup.”
Past Lekjaa
The talk has additionally attracted consideration amongst Moroccans overseas.
Touria Guerraoui, a Moroccan-French know-how skilled, mentioned the diaspora has adopted Lekjaa’s political transfer with explicit curiosity due to his reputation by way of soccer.
“Many Moroccans dwelling overseas intently adopted the nationwide workforce’s achievements and really feel related to that success,” she informed Al Jazeera. “His determination to affix PAM has made many within the diaspora extra attentive to this election.”
She argued that Morocco isn’t distinctive in seeing influential senior state officers enter politics, pointing to French President Emmanuel Macron, who entered nationwide politics after a profession within the personal sector and public administration.
“A big a part of Morocco’s soccer workforce comes from the diaspora, and their achievements have generated monumental delight,” she mentioned. “However many individuals are actually asking whether or not the effectiveness demonstrated in soccer administration may also be translated into the financial and social progress that Moroccans anticipate.”
