Morocco: 20 February Movement will it rebound?
Morocco's 20 February movement, born during the Arab Spring uprisings and increasingly marginalised in the two years since then s hoping to return to prominence again as economic discontent grows with rising prices.
At the dawn of the Arab Spring the 20 February Movement drew thousands of protestors on to Morocco's streets but now two years later it can only achieve demonstratorsin the hundreds. On the anniversary of 20 February the movement celebrates its second anniversary with a demonstration in front of parliament in Rabat according to a report on France 24.
The movement saw itself sidelined because of the swift constitutional changes by King Mohammed VI which were endorsed by a popular referendum followed by elections. The PJD as the main Islamist party won a majority of votes and formed a coalition government. The Islamistsincluding those from Al Wadl el Ihsan who had marched with the 20 February Movement withdrew their support and transferred it to the PJD and Prime Minister Abdelaziz Benkirane.
The PJD's stance on corruption and democracy took away much of the 20 February's platform. Also as in neighbouring Tunisia and Egypt the secular impetus to the Arab Spring in Morocco gave way to the Islamists and as a commentator told France 24 the movement has ceased to exist politically.About 70 activists were said to be behind bars at the end of December, according to a coalition of Moroccan human rights groups.The security forces have also used force toput down demonstrations. Mr Abdelilah Benkirane remarked that activists were not sacred people and is sceptical about any revivalof the20 February movement.
An activist quoted by France 24 admitted that the group had failed toattract significant support and needed to reinvent itself, however the initiative has passed to the islamists and without them the 20 February cannot mount demonstrations in sufficient numbers on its own. However as a pressure group it may have a future but not as a political force.The poltical classes and public opinion may have become increasingly wary of street demonstrations following the chaotic events in Tunisia and Egypt.
Source : https://www.marocafrik.com/english/Morocco-20-Febr...
At the dawn of the Arab Spring the 20 February Movement drew thousands of protestors on to Morocco's streets but now two years later it can only achieve demonstratorsin the hundreds. On the anniversary of 20 February the movement celebrates its second anniversary with a demonstration in front of parliament in Rabat according to a report on France 24.
The movement saw itself sidelined because of the swift constitutional changes by King Mohammed VI which were endorsed by a popular referendum followed by elections. The PJD as the main Islamist party won a majority of votes and formed a coalition government. The Islamistsincluding those from Al Wadl el Ihsan who had marched with the 20 February Movement withdrew their support and transferred it to the PJD and Prime Minister Abdelaziz Benkirane.
The PJD's stance on corruption and democracy took away much of the 20 February's platform. Also as in neighbouring Tunisia and Egypt the secular impetus to the Arab Spring in Morocco gave way to the Islamists and as a commentator told France 24 the movement has ceased to exist politically.About 70 activists were said to be behind bars at the end of December, according to a coalition of Moroccan human rights groups.The security forces have also used force toput down demonstrations. Mr Abdelilah Benkirane remarked that activists were not sacred people and is sceptical about any revivalof the20 February movement.
An activist quoted by France 24 admitted that the group had failed toattract significant support and needed to reinvent itself, however the initiative has passed to the islamists and without them the 20 February cannot mount demonstrations in sufficient numbers on its own. However as a pressure group it may have a future but not as a political force.The poltical classes and public opinion may have become increasingly wary of street demonstrations following the chaotic events in Tunisia and Egypt.
Source : https://www.marocafrik.com/english/Morocco-20-Febr...