Elections, the period of time where Moroccans are finally heard, looked after, and valued in society, is a crucial period in determining how the next five years of our lives are going to evolve. In the United States, the elections phase last for one year. It takes one year so that the American people can take all their time in choosing the suitable candidate. In Morocco, the elections phase takes only around 2 weeks, a period that I deem not enough to scrutinize every party’s election program. As Moroccans, we would love to see this period extended, the first step towards being citizens, in the proper meaning of the word.
Elections is an effective way to determine the fate of almost 40 million. Elections is one of democracy’s tools to a free society; or, “it is the thing that the government does not count unless it is convenient to its agenda,” many of the non-voters argue. Whether the latter statement is true or not, recently, there has been a wave of people of all social backgrounds advocating to boycott the coming elections. The chitchat in Cafes and social networks hint out that there is no need to vote since the people on top are going to choose whomever they want. Well, the coming few lines are dedicated to prove you wrong.
I know that some of you feel cheated. When the party you chose to represent you, at the end, represented itself and the interest of the higher authorities. Due to the ignorance of most Moroccan people and their love of Islam, many thought that somehow the PJD is the party to trust, that Benkiran is Erdoğan, that we are going to establish an Islamic state that will thrive and reminisce us back to the Abbassid dynasty days. Sadly, these are silly dreams for silly people. Such choices (e.g: voting) must be made with the mind not with the heart. We’ve had an exceptional path in comparison with neighboring countries, but we did not choose well.
And, once again, with the movement of mamsawtinch (We are boycotting the elections), we are going to make the same mistake in choosing in an affectional way, and therefore, horribly. Not voting does not mean cancelled elections, or political reforms. It does not mean that a revolution will take place. We went through the juncture for that (revolution) many times yet no one dared to flinch! Not voting just means not participating in the political process that will determine the fate of our country.
Chaque peuple a des dirigeants qu’il mérite (Every people get the leaders they deserve). This quote never proved to be wrong. No two will disagree on the fact that when the majority of a country’s people are enlightened then the country is enlightened and it develops, and vice-versa. In Morocco, we all know what we go through as a country and as a nation. We also know that the majority of our elected officials are corrupt politicians motivated by greed, lust for money and power. The question to be asked here is: Who put them in their comfy seats?
In the elections of 2007, they were put by 37% of those who preregistered to vote— the lowest rate of participation in Moroccan history. In those elections, the USPF lost up to a quarter of its seats as to it adopted unpopular policies when they headed the government, including having chosen bad representatives. While in 2011 the suffrage rate reached 45%, after the 20 February Movement baked the cake, the PJD ate it via a stupendous use of religion.
Due to the decline of the USPF presence in the political arena, many people lost faith in the electoral process. The majority of those belong to the working class—teachers, employees, and intellectuals. The same faith was restored when the PJD came out victorious in 2011, but the hope has quickly evaporated as they proved to be nothing but schemers in the name of Islam. The thing to be witnessed when dealing with these rates is that, first, the people who voted are not enough to choose for 45 million Moroccan. In point of fact, they are not even qualified to choose since those rates are composed of party supporters, feasty people, and voice sellers. Second, Benkiran, being the stager politician that he is, managed to rally up people under the flag of Islam, bringing the participation rate up to 45%.
The maddening thing, now, is that we are going through the same dark tunnel again without even noticing it. We cannot let a bunch of simpletons determine the faith of millions. By doing so, we are being simpletons as well. For the sake of argument and for lack of solid evidence, let us admit that the elections are not rigged. Let us indulge their fabricated play and fantasy and play their game; let us win by their rules so that we can make our own. The law must be fought from within; change comes from within. We have to engage in the process of electing the next public representatives.
I remember the good old days of 1993, 1997, and of 2002 where the suffrage rate scored 62.7%, 58.3% and 51.6% respectively. The elections, at that time, were all won by USPF, but that is not the point. The point is that the rate of the participation in electoral process was, fairly, acceptable. People engaged in choosing their representatives and, reasonably enough, the USFP did quite well. Do not get me wrong, the USPF are not the same anymore.
The problem, as far as I am concerned, is in the people, in us. We do not hold accountable those whom we have elected. We think that they are stronger than us. In other countries, corrupt politicians are literally thrown into dumpsters. The power is in the hands of the people; the power is in our hands. Our elected officials are but a mere reflection of the people who vote for them. I am certain that no one would like to be represented by corrupt officials. I know that no one is going to fool us once more using religion. I know that no one is going to make me vote for him out of fear. Let us, all of us, outnumber the mray9ia (careerists).
If my words find you and find you well. I hope that you will start looking for the right representative. Amidst all the parties and candidates there is a handful of people who are worth listening to, able to change the situation, and want the best for the people and the country. When you are about to cast your vote, a piece of advice, do not look for that who claims the creation of jobs and economic growth, because that is only a lie. Look for the one who emphasizes on establishing democracy, and a parliamentary monarchy, the eradication of the fear from Makhzan, and the abolishment of elite’s privileges, the revival of public health and education. The one who preaches equality, freedom of speech, and of belief.
We need to pump the life back into the people. That is the only way to move forward; that is the only way to renaissance.
