HIBAPRESS – A. Mahyaoui
Mohamed Ouzin, Secretary-General of the Popular Movement party, affirmed that the party's participation in the upcoming government will not be solely tied to obtaining ministerial portfolios or positions within the majority, but rather to the extent to which the next government program can translate the commitments the party made to voters during the electoral stages.
Ouzin explained, during his appearance on a radio program, that the Popular Movement will approach government consultations with flexibility. However, this flexibility does not mean abandoning the substance of the contract the party presented to voters. He stressed that positions and responsibilities cannot be a substitute for achieving impact and efficiency in public policies.
In this context, the Secretary-General of the Popular Movement clarified that his party is not seeking a position within the government as a mere "complementary number." He confirmed that the criterion for participation for the party is linked to the extent of agreement on priorities and content that it believes responds to citizens' expectations and aligns with its electoral commitments.
According to Ouzin, the absence of such an agreement could push the Popular Movement to continue its work from the opposition, within the framework of exercising its institutional role and continuing to defend its positions and political commitments.
Elections.. Full Investigation Without Preconceived Judgments
Regarding the controversy surrounding some electoral incidents, Ouzin affirmed that the Popular Movement's position is clear: any suspicion concerning the integrity of the ballot must be subject to a full investigation, without cover-up or anticipation of judicial findings.
He emphasized that opening judicial investigations and examining incidents is the correct path to establishing the truth and assigning responsibility, if violations are proven. He stressed, on the other hand, the necessity of awaiting the results of investigations and judicial rulings before issuing any final conclusions.
He added that transforming an incident still under investigation into a definitive judgment on the entire election is neither politically nor morally sound, calling for a distinction between incidents requiring investigation and the overall results of the electoral process.
Ouzin asserted that the Popular Movement advocates for fair elections and that if any person's responsibility is proven, regardless of their affiliation or position, they must bear full responsibility according to the law. At the same time, he stressed the need to protect the reputation of institutions and the electoral process from generalization and preconceived judgments until legal and judicial procedures are completed.
In this regard, he pointed out that electoral appeals are among the mechanisms available under the law to competitors, explaining that the Popular Movement's candidate, Mohamed El Jomani, chose to follow the available legal procedures with the competent judicial authorities.
Loss of Historical Strongholds and Internal Review
Regarding the Popular Movement's performance in the recent elections, Ouzin acknowledged the party's loss of a number of its traditional electoral strongholds, including the Boulmane constituency. He considered that interpreting these results requires considering the transformations in the demographic and electoral map, along with the nature of the political context in which the elections took place.
Conversely, he noted the party's ability to maintain its parliamentary presence and gain new positions, recording that the Popular Movement won 29 seats. This figure, the party believes, should be considered within a comprehensive reading of the results, not limited solely to the constituencies where the party lost its representation.
Ouzin did not rule out the party leadership taking responsibility for any misjudgment in selecting some nominations, highlighting that the next phase requires reviewing aspects of organizational work, strengthening field presence, and reconsidering communication mechanisms with citizens.
Youth and Silent Groups – A New Organizational Challenge
The Secretary-General of the Popular Movement also identified the issue of attracting groups that have remained distant from political and electoral participation as a challenge facing the party, especially youth and groups that did not strongly engage in the recent elections.
Based on Ouzin's statements, the next phase for the Popular Movement will not be limited to managing its position within the government or parliamentary landscape, but will also include an internal workshop to re-evaluate organizational and communication performance and to seek ways to regain presence in several regions that have, for years, been part of the party's electoral map.
Regarding government participation, Ouzin links the Popular Movement's stance to the availability of consensus on a minimum set of commitments presented by the party within the framework of the "Movement's Contract." According to his vision, this is a matter of respecting the voter and preserving the principle of political contract, making any government participation tied to clear content and commitments, not merely to obtaining portfolios or positions within the majority.
