On Nov. 25, more than 14 million Moroccans went to the polls to elect the first Parliament under the new Constitution ratified on July 1. The Justice and Development Party (PJD), the moderate Islamic party, will have the largest presence in the new Parliament with 107 of the 395 seats. His Majesty King Mohammed VI, has formally asked the PJD to form the new governing coalition, a process that is now underway. Over the past two decades, Morocco has demonstrated its commitment to democratic reforms. Nevertheless, questions remain about how they will be implemented and what this election and its results mean for Morocco’s political future.
In this roundtable discussion, panelists will offer their insights on the following questions:
- How were the elections conducted?
- What were the results and what do they mean?
- What are the likely outcomes of forming a coalition government and implementing reform under the new Constitution?
- What are the implications for the region and for US policy?
Participants include:
Dr. Anouar Boukhars, Assistant Professor of Political Science and International Studies, McDaniel College
Shari Bryan, Vice-President, National Democratic Institute
Edward M. Gabriel, former US Ambassador to Morocco
Lahcen Haddad, Recently Re-Elected Member of Parliament for the Popular Movement (MP)
Robert Holley, Executive Director, Moroccan American Center for PolicyPlease
Date & Time: Dec. 8, 2011, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Location: 1777 F Street, NW, First Floor, Washington, DC 20006
RSVP with Name and Affiliation to cdearing@moroccanamericancenter.com.
