RABAT - Morocco's local elections have been postponed from their scheduled June date to September, after "bargaining" between Prime Mininster Driss Jettou and political parties, several papers reported Thursday.
According to the Economiste newspaper, the date of September 12 has been retained in principle for the elections, which were being put back from their June date "because it is feared the Islamist Justice and Development Party (PJD) could run away with the elections and carry many cities."
The communications ministry said Monday, without going into detail, that the government wanted to hold local elections "before October." The ministry has not confirmed reports that the vote has been delayed.
The PJD trebled the number of seats it has in parliament in last year's legislative election, establishing itself as the leading opposition grouping and the third largest single party in the assembly.
A PJD leader, Saad Eddine Othmani, said in an interview with Le Matin newspaper Tuesday that his party could forge alliances for the local elections - "even with the USFP (ruling socialist party) ... if doing so will allow a town to be better managed."
He also "refuted" the use of the word "Islamist" to describe his party.
"It's a word coined in Europe. I prefer to say that the PJD is not an Islamist party but a political party with Islamic reference points," Othmani said.
Another paper, Aujourd'hui Le Maroc, said Thursday the postponement was already official, but gave as the reason that delaying it would allow more voters to register.
Jettou met Tuesday night with the leaders and representatives of the parties that, with the Socialist Union of Popular Forces (USFP), form the majority in parliament.
Following that meeting, Ismail Alaoui, the leader of the Party of Progress and Socialism (PPS), which holds nine seats in parliament, said: "We discussed ... the constraints and obligations that would face urban and rural voters, if the original date of June is maintained."
"June is the month of exams, of holidays and of harvests. It appeared clear to us that people would have other worries besides going out to polling stations and fulfilling their civic obligations," he said.
Just over half - 52 percent - of Morocco's registered voters turned out to cast their ballots in September's parliamentary election, according to official figures.
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