Page 211

REVISTA IEEE 11

211 Elena Labrado Calera An analysis of the plurality of political Islam. The cases… In terms of ideology, the organisation has its roots in Moroccan Sufism, but disassociates itself from Salafism and the Muslim Brotherhood. Its long-term strategy is to create a caliphate based on democratic principles and respect for human rights. Justice and Charity is pragmatic and flexible and more politicised as a result of the Arab Spring. It seems to be able to adapt to the context, as demonstrated by the group’s recent backing of the protest movement that originated in the Rif region. According to Mohamed Salmi, a member of Justice and Charity’s political secretariat, they do not consider themselves close to Fethullah Gulen’s movement in Turkey but, rather, to the Turks who took to the streets during the coup; having said that, they see no justification for the crackdown launched by President Erdogan following the revolt. In addition, they are convinced that they will ultimately triumph in Morocco, but are in no rush, and do not feel pressurised by election results45. Justice and Charity is the only organisation in Morocco that can challenge the PJD from an Islamic perspective. They are patient and, in view of the Justice and Development Party’s considerable success in the recent election, they will need to be. PJD emerged victorious with 125 seats, 18 more than in the previous election. The results suggest the consolidation of the PJD party within the Moroccan political system and not the «historical exceptionality» that many anticipated initially. Therefore, the PJD seems to be yet another player in the country’s political game46. A player, moreover, that does not seem to be affected by the Moroccan public’s disaffection with their political system and which has shown what can be accomplished with a cohesive, disciplined party and an electoral and ideological machine that works, that is to say, a fully-fledged political party that behaves as such. At this point, however, we must stress that not everything hinges on the PJD. Its leverage capacity is restricted by the other parties in the coalition government and, of course, by the Palace, where major decisions and strategies are made. And, as mentioned previously, the king, in addition to reigning, still holds the reins of some branches of government, acts as a referee in the political arena and watches over Morocco’s main resources. An institution which, up until now, has demonstrated its ability to maintain the stability and plurality of the system47. Thus, the monarchy and a share of Moroccan Islamist actors are compelled to get along. As a result, the PJD has had to make some concessions such as abandoning its request for a parliamentary monarchy and playing a subordinate role to the royal institution. This has already triggered an internal crisis which was resolved by accepting that «Islamist opposition has nothing to do with the king, with whom we work and 45  Ibid. 46  https://www.esglobal.org/marruecos-vuelve-triunfar-partido-islamista/ Accessed on 04-11-2017. 47  Ibid. http://revista.ieee.es

REVISTA IEEE 11
To see the actual publication please follow the link above