Istiqlal Party
Encyclopedia
The Istiqlal or Independence Party (Arabic
: حزب الإستقلال hizb al-istiqlāl, French
: Parti de l'Istiqlal) is a political party
in Morocco
. It is a conservative monarchist party and a member of the Centrist Democrat International
.
Originally founded in the 1940s, Istiqlal held strongly nationalist
views and was the main political force struggling for the independence of Morocco. The party was often critical of the ruling monarchy, after being instrumental in liberating the country from French
colonialism
. Independence
was achieved in 1956, and the party then moved into opposition against the monarchy, which had asserted itself as the country's main political actor. Together with the leftist UNFP, which split from Istiqlal in 1959, and later the USFP
, the Istiqlal would form the backbone of the opposition to King Hassan II
in the years to come. The Istiqlal party has taken part in many coalition governments from the late 1970s until the mid-'80s. In 1998, together with the USFP inside the Koutla
and other smaller parties, the Istiqlal formed the Alternance, the first political experience in the Arab World
where the opposition assumed power through the ballots.
For the party's leader Allal El Fassi, a proponent of "Greater Morocco
", Morocco's independence would not be complete without the liberation of all the territories that once were part of Morocco.
In the parliamentary election
held on 27 September 2002, the party won 48 out of 325 seats.
In January 2006, Istiqlal criticized Spanish
Prime Minister
José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero
's visit to the Spanish cities of Ceuta
and Melilla
on the north African coast, reflecting its nationalist heritage.
Istiqlal won 52 out of 325 seats in the parliamentary election
held on 7 September 2007, more than any other party, and subsequently the party's leader, Abbas El Fassi
, was named Prime Minister by King Mohammed VI
on 19 September 2007.
Arabic language
Arabic is a name applied to the descendants of the Classical Arabic language of the 6th century AD, used most prominently in the Quran, the Islamic Holy Book...
: حزب الإستقلال hizb al-istiqlāl, French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
: Parti de l'Istiqlal) is a political party
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
in Morocco
Morocco
Morocco , officially the Kingdom of Morocco , is a country located in North Africa. It has a population of more than 32 million and an area of 710,850 km², and also primarily administers the disputed region of the Western Sahara...
. It is a conservative monarchist party and a member of the Centrist Democrat International
Centrist Democrat International
The Centrist Democrat International was until 2001 the Christian Democrat International and before that the Christian Democrat and People's Parties International...
.
Originally founded in the 1940s, Istiqlal held strongly nationalist
Nationalism
Nationalism is a political ideology that involves a strong identification of a group of individuals with a political entity defined in national terms, i.e. a nation. In the 'modernist' image of the nation, it is nationalism that creates national identity. There are various definitions for what...
views and was the main political force struggling for the independence of Morocco. The party was often critical of the ruling monarchy, after being instrumental in liberating the country from French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
colonialism
Colonialism
Colonialism is the establishment, maintenance, acquisition and expansion of colonies in one territory by people from another territory. It is a process whereby the metropole claims sovereignty over the colony and the social structure, government, and economics of the colony are changed by...
. Independence
Independence
Independence is a condition of a nation, country, or state in which its residents and population, or some portion thereof, exercise self-government, and usually sovereignty, over its territory....
was achieved in 1956, and the party then moved into opposition against the monarchy, which had asserted itself as the country's main political actor. Together with the leftist UNFP, which split from Istiqlal in 1959, and later the USFP
Socialist Union of Popular Forces
The Socialist Union of Popular Forces, USFP, is a social democratic political party in Morocco...
, the Istiqlal would form the backbone of the opposition to King Hassan II
Hassan II of Morocco
King Hassan II l-ḥasan aṯ-ṯānī, dial. el-ḥasan ettâni); July 9, 1929 – July 23, 1999) was King of Morocco from 1961 until his death in 1999...
in the years to come. The Istiqlal party has taken part in many coalition governments from the late 1970s until the mid-'80s. In 1998, together with the USFP inside the Koutla
Koutla
The Koutla is a political coalition between three Moroccan parties : the Istiqlal Party , the Socialist Union of Popular Forces and the Party of Progress and Socialism . The Koutla is a member of the present government....
and other smaller parties, the Istiqlal formed the Alternance, the first political experience in the Arab World
Arab world
The Arab world refers to Arabic-speaking states, territories and populations in North Africa, Western Asia and elsewhere.The standard definition of the Arab world comprises the 22 states and territories of the Arab League stretching from the Atlantic Ocean in the west to the Arabian Sea in the...
where the opposition assumed power through the ballots.
For the party's leader Allal El Fassi, a proponent of "Greater Morocco
Greater Morocco
Greater Morocco is a label historically used by some Moroccan anti-colonial political leaders protesting against Spanish and French rule, to refer to wider territories historically associated with the Moroccan Sultan...
", Morocco's independence would not be complete without the liberation of all the territories that once were part of Morocco.
In the parliamentary election
Moroccan parliamentary election, 2002
The 2002 Moroccan parliamentary election was held in Morocco on 27 September 2002. The election was the first since King Mohammed VI of Morocco had come to the throne in 1999 and international observers saw it as a test of his commitment to democracy...
held on 27 September 2002, the party won 48 out of 325 seats.
In January 2006, Istiqlal criticized Spanish
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
Prime Minister
Prime Minister of Spain
The President of the Government of Spain , sometimes known in English as the Prime Minister of Spain, is the head of Government of Spain. The current office is established under the Constitution of 1978...
José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero
José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero
José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero is a member of the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party . He was elected for two terms as Prime Minister of Spain, in the 2004 and 2008 general elections. On 2 April 2011 he announced he will not stand for re-election in 2012...
's visit to the Spanish cities of Ceuta
Ceuta
Ceuta is an autonomous city of Spain and an exclave located on the north coast of North Africa surrounded by Morocco. Separated from the Iberian peninsula by the Strait of Gibraltar, Ceuta lies on the border of the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. Ceuta along with the other Spanish...
and Melilla
Melilla
Melilla is a autonomous city of Spain and an exclave on the north coast of Morocco. Melilla, along with the Spanish exclave Ceuta, is one of the two Spanish territories located in mainland Africa...
on the north African coast, reflecting its nationalist heritage.
Istiqlal won 52 out of 325 seats in the parliamentary election
Moroccan parliamentary election, 2007
Parliamentary elections were held in Morocco on 7 September 2007, the second of King Mohammed VI's reign. Voter turnout was estimated to be 37%, the lowest in Moroccan political history. There were 33 different parties and 13 independent candidates competing for 325 assembly seats...
held on 7 September 2007, more than any other party, and subsequently the party's leader, Abbas El Fassi
Abbas El Fassi
Abbas El Fassi was the Prime Minister of Morocco from 19 September 2007 to 29 November 2011. El Fassi, a member of the Istiqlal Party, replaced independent Driss Jettou.El Fassi was born in Berkane, Morocco on September 18, 1940...
, was named Prime Minister by King Mohammed VI
Mohammed VI of Morocco
Mohammed VI is the present King of Morocco and Amir al-Mu'minin . He ascended to the throne on 23 July 1999 upon the death of his father.-Education:...
on 19 September 2007.