Gestion communale et clientélisme moral au Maroc : les politiques du Parti de la justice et du développement

During the local elections of 2003, the Justice and Development Party (PJD), Morocco's leading "Islamist" party, made a remarkable breakthrough in cities. Its politicians, most of whom were just beginning their careers, learned the ropes of the political game in a context of decentralization that was reorganizing the scale of local government and transferring competencies to de-concentrated authorities and communal presidents. After having set out to conquer cities in the name of moral and religious values, PJD politicians quickly adopted a pragmatic approach to their functions, presenting themselves above all else as efficient managers of local affairs. In keeping with neoliberal injunctions, they underscored their professional training and areas of specialization. Religious references gradually shaded into the consensual language of order, with emphasis being placed on such notions as proximity, integrity and morality depending on the audience. Making a show of a type of moral clientelism, PJD politicians adopted an ideology of action in order to resolve the daily problems of voters. Presenting themselves as local affairs technicians, they also took on the role of men of goodwill and men of the party and thus became crucial to ensuring support for the party at the local level.