Justice and Development Party (Morocco)

PJD was founded by Abdelkrim al-Khatib, one of the founders of the Popular Movement party, from which he was expelled in the mid-1960s, under the name of MPDC ({{langx|fr|Mouvement populaire démocratique et constitutionnel}}, the "Popular Democratic and Constitutional Movement").{{cite journal|author=Mohammed Hirchi|title=Political Islam in Morocco: The Case of the Party of Justice and Development (PJD)|journal=ACAS Bulletin|date=August 2007|issue=77|url=http://concernedafricascholars.org/bulletin/issue77/hirchi/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130513121321/http://concernedafricascholars.org/bulletin/issue77/hirchi/|url-status=usurped|archive-date=13 May 2013|access-date=21 January 2014}} The party was an empty shell for many years, until various members of a clandestine association Chabiba Islamia, who later formed the MUR ({{langx|fr|Mouvement unité et réforme}}, the "Unity and Reform Movement") joined the party, with the authorisation and encouragement of former interior minister Driss Basri. It later changed its name to current PJD in 1998.

The party won eight seats in the parliamentary election in 1997. In the parliamentary election held on 27 September 2002, the party won 42 out of 325 seats, winning most of the districts where it fielded candidates. Its secretary-general since 2004 was Saadeddine Othmani, MP representing Mohammedia. In the parliamentary election held on 7 September 2007, the PJD won 43 out of 325 seats,{{cite web|author=Kristine Krausch|title=An Islamist Government in Morocco?|url=http://www.fride.org/download/BGR_GovMorocc_ENG_jul07.pdf|publisher=FRIDE|access-date=10 October 2014|date=July 2007}} behind the Istiqlal Party, which won 52. This was contrary to expectations that the PJD would win the most seats.{{cite news|title=Moroccans favor conservative party instead of ushering in Islamic party|url=http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/09/10/africa/AF-GEN-Morocco-Elections.php|newspaper=International Herald Tribune |date=9 September 2007|agency=Associated Press|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081014084028/http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/09/10/africa/AF-GEN-Morocco-Elections.php|archive-date=14 October 2008 |access-date=30 November 2011}} However, the party had limited number of candidates in the election.

Abdelilah Benkirane was elected leader of the PJD in July 2008, taking over from Saadeddine Othmani.{{cite web|title=Abdelilah Benkirane élu à la tête du PJD|url=http://www.jeunesdumaroc.com/+6889-Abdelillah-Benkirane-elu-a-la-tete+.html|work=JDM Magazine|access-date=25 November 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120405233849/http://www.jeunesdumaroc.com/+6889-Abdelillah-Benkirane-elu-a-la-tete+.html|archive-date=5 April 2012}} Having won a plurality of seats (107 seats) in the November 2011 parliamentary election,{{cite web|title=Morocco|url=http://www.europeanforum.net/country/morocco|publisher=European Forum|access-date=10 October 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140910053106/http://www.europeanforum.net/country/morocco|archive-date=10 September 2014}}{{cite web|title=Youth Perceptions in Morocco|url=https://www.ndi.org/files/Morocco-Youth-FG-Report-070212.pdf|publisher=National Democratic Institute for International Affairs|year=2012}} the party formed a coalition with three parties that had been part of previous governments, and Benkirane was appointed Prime Minister of Morocco on 29 November 2011.[http://www.france24.com/fr/20111126-pjd-concertations-partis-politique-maroc-abdelilah-benkirane-suffrages-legislatives Abdelilah Benkirane, dirigeant du Parti justice et développement, annoncé comme le vainqueur des législatives] France24. 27 November 2011. Retrieved 21 January 2014.{{cite web|url=https://af.reuters.com/article/investingNews/idAFJOE80I08W20120119 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141017104317/http://af.reuters.com/article/investingNews/idAFJOE80I08W20120119 |url-status=dead |archive-date=17 October 2014 |title=Morocco's new govt targets 5.5 pct GDP growth|work=Reuters|date=19 January 2012}}

His new government has targeted average economic growth of 5.5 percent a year during its four-year mandate, and to reduce the jobless rate to 8 percent by the end of 2016 from 9.1 percent at the start of 2012. Benkirane's government has also actively pursued Morocco's ties with the European Union, its chief trade partner, as well as becoming increasingly engaged with the six-member Gulf Co-operation Council.

In the 2021 general election, the PJD suffered a crushing defeat, losing 113 seats.{{Cite web |date=2021-09-09 |title=Islamists suffer crushing defeat in Moroccan parliamentary elections |url=https://www.france24.com/en/middle-east/20210909-islamists-suffer-crushing-defeat-in-moroccan-parliamentary-elections |access-date=2023-03-13 |website=France 24 |language=en}}{{Cite news |last1=Alami |first1=Aida |last2=Casey |first2=Nicholas |date=2021-09-09 |title=Islamists See Big Losses in Moroccan Parliamentary Elections |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/09/08/world/africa/morocco-elections.html |access-date=2023-03-13 |issn=0362-4331}}{{Cite web |title=The lessons of history: The PJD and the history of partisan politics in Morocco |url=https://www.mei.edu/publications/lessons-history-pjd-and-history-partisan-politics-morocco |access-date=2023-03-13 |website=Middle East Institute |language=en}}

On 11 March 2023, the PJD released a statement criticizing Nasser Bourita, Morocco's foreign minister, accusing him of defending Israel during meetings with African and European officials. In response, the royal cabinet released a statement rebuking the PJD.{{Cite web |date=2023-03-13 |title=Royal Court condemns statements from PJD on Kingdom's foreign policy |url=https://en.hespress.com/60143-royal-court-condemns-statements-from-pjd-on-kingdoms-foreign-policy.html |access-date=2023-03-13 |website=HESPRESS English - Morocco News |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Aamari |first=Oussama |title=Royal Cabinet Debunks PJD Claims Over Morocco's Position on Palestinian Cause |url=https://www.moroccoworldnews.com/2023/03/354433/royal-cabinet-debunks-pjd-claims-over-morocco-s-position-on-palestinian-cause |access-date=2023-03-13 |website=Morocco World News |language=en}} Party leader Abdelilah Benkirane asked members of the party to not comment on the statement released by the royal cabinet and said the comments were directed towards Bourita, rather than the nation's interests.{{Cite web |date=2023-03-13 |title=Benkirane instructs PJD party members to refrain from commenting on royal court statement |url=https://en.hespress.com/60171-benkirane-instructs-pjd-party-members-to-refrain-from-commenting-on-royal-court-statement.html |access-date=2023-03-13 |website=HESPRESS English - Morocco News |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Kasraoui |first=Safaa |title=Benkirane Asks PJD Members Not to Comment on Royal Cabinet's Palestine Statement |url=https://www.moroccoworldnews.com/2023/03/354439/benkirane-asks-pjd-members-not-to-comment-on-royal-cabinets-palestine-statement |access-date=2023-03-13 |website=Morocco World News |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2023-03-15 |title=Benkirane responds to royal scorn over Israel statements |url=https://en.hespress.com/60328-benkirane-responds-to-royal-scorn-over-israel-statements.html |access-date=2023-03-16 |website=HESPRESS English - Morocco News |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Zouiten |first=Sara |title=PJD Denies Interfering in King Mohammed VI's Constitutional Powers |url=https://www.moroccoworldnews.com/2023/03/354490/pjd-denies-interfering-in-king-mohammed-vis-constitutional-powers |access-date=2023-03-16 |website=Morocco World News |language=en}}

PJD is a conservative Islamic-democratic party which supports the Moroccan monarchy. PJD disavows violence, terrorism and seeks to defend Morocco's Islamic identity through legislative means.{{cite news|title=Islamists in Morocco election claim 'historic' vote breakthrough|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/morocco/8917595/Islamists-in-Morocco-election-claim-historic-vote-breakthrough.html|access-date=10 October 2014|work=The Telegraph|date=26 November 2011}}{{cite news |title=Islamic Party Confident in Morocco |last=Knickmeyer |first=Ellen |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/06/AR2007090602547.html|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=7 September 2007|access-date=30 November 2011}}

According to a paper published by the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, the PJD has placed economic and legal issues at the core of its platform and is committed to internal democracy.{{cite web|author=Amr Hamzawy|title=Party for Justice and Development in Morocco: Participation and Its Discontents|date=July 2008|publisher=Carnegie Endowment for International Peace |url=https://www.carnegieendowment.org/publications/?fa=view&id=20314 |access-date=30 November 2011}}

The party's stated platform includes:{{cite web|title=Arab Political Parties Database: Morocco: Justice and Development party|date=15 December 2007|work=United Nations Development Programme|url=http://www.arabparliaments.org/whatwedo/parties.aspx?cid=12&pid=71|access-date=30 November 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120513041352/http://www.arabparliaments.org/whatwedo/parties.aspx?cid=12&pid=71|archive-date=13 May 2012|url-status=dead}}

• Education reform and reestablishment.
• Economic partnerships with other countries.
• Enhancement of democracy and human rights.
• Encouraging investment.
• Greater "Arab and Muslim unity".

It is historically affiliated with the Muslim Brotherhood,{{cite web|url=https://menas.co.uk/blog/threat-of-us-designation-sparks-fears-in-ruling-pjd|work=Menas Associates|date=29 May 2019|title=Threat of US designation sparks fears in ruling PJD}}{{cite web|url=https://www.africa-confidential.com/article-preview/id/5197/Headaches_for_Benkirane_|work=Africa Confidential|date=24 January 2014|title=Headaches for Benkirane }}{{cite web|url=https://www.swp-berlin.org/publications/products/comments/2014C51_msb.pdf|work=German Institute for International and Security Affairs|date=November 2014|page=4|title=Islamist and Secular Forces in Morocco|author=Mohammed Masbah}}{{cite web|url=https://www.middleeasteye.net/fr/opinion-fr/islamistes-maroc-algerie-tunisie-libye-pjd-msp-ennahdha-morsi-freres-musulmans-islam-politique|work=Middle East Eye|date=16 September 2021|title=Fin de parcours pour les Frères musulmans au Maghreb ?|author=Abed Charef}} however, despite this, PJD was never an official branch.

• Justice and Development Party (Turkey)
• List of Islamic political parties

{{Notelist}}

{{Reflist|30em}}

• [http://www.pjd.ma Justice and Development Party] {{in lang|ar|fr}}
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20171104211310/http://www.attajdid.ma/ Attajdid newspaper] {{in lang|ar}}

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