The North Africa Journal: Local Elections in Morocco: A Socialist-Islamist Alliance in the Offing 

Local Elections in Morocco: A Socialist-Islamist Alliance in the Offing
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Arezki Daoud on 14 February, 2009 12:10:00
 
Although the PJD had apparently nothing to do with the terrorist acts, its
political opponents used the event to nullify any progress it has made up to
that point. Among the most vocal critics of the PJD were its natural
competitors, the socialists of the USFP party. With strong feelings among its
opponents and part of the middle and upper classes that it had some link to the
terror movement, at least through indirect ideological support, the PJD was
forced to scale back its ambitions in the 2003 local elections, and had to
postpone its objective of controlling the large municipalities in urban areas.
This year, a sense of normalcy hints that the PJD is looking to make fresh gains
and recover whatever the losses of the past. Even more interestingly, its
traditional foes could become allies. Leaders of the PJD and the socialist party
USFP have been making public statements and media appearances arguing that an
alliance between the leading leftist wing political organization and the
conservative religious movement is not impossible. Continue here.