What Moroccan government’s shortcomings mean for post-election coalitions
As Moroccans prepare to head to the polls Oct. 7 to elect members of the lower house of parliament, a current lack of cohesion among government parties may indicate a post-poll realignment.
![AFP_GA7LJ Moroccan Prime Minister, and Secretary General of the ruling Islamic Justice and Development Party (PJD), Abdelilah Benkirane speaks during a press conference announcing his party's campaign program for the upcoming parliamentary election on September 19, 2016, in the capital Rabat. / AFP / FADEL SENNA (Photo credit should read FADEL SENNA/AFP/Getty Images)](/sites/default/files/styles/article_hero_medium/public/almpics/2016/10/GettyImages-607707878.jpg/GettyImages-607707878.jpg?h=f7822858&itok=y3sScVJp)
Throughout its mandate, the 2011-2016 Moroccan government underwent open scrutiny, criticism and even defamation unprecedented in recent history. The general public closely followed developments, particularly on social media, commenting on governmental accomplishments and pitfalls, sometimes being as inefficient as opposition groups.
Perhaps this resulted from the great expectations young people had after decades of corrupt and stagnant policies. Still, the four coalition parties managed to overcome numerous economic and political hurdles together. However, disagreements loomed large at end of the government's term, culminating in the parties' inability to display a cohesive achievement record.