Socialist Union of Popular Forces

Socialist Union of Popular Forces
الاتحاد الاشتراكي للقوات الشعبية
Union Socialiste des Forces Populaires
First Secretary Driss Lachgar
Founded 1975 (1975)
Split from National Union of Popular Forces
Headquarters Rabat, Morocco
Newspaper Al Ittihad al Ichtiraki (Arab)
Libération (French)
Ideology Social democracy[1]
Democratic socialism[1]
Political position Centre-left
European affiliation Party of European Socialists (observer)
International affiliation Socialist International,
Progressive Alliance
Colours Purple, White
House of Representatives
20 / 395
Website
www.usfp.ma

The Socialist Union of Popular Forces, USFP, (Arabic: الاتحاد الاشتراكي للقوات الشعبية Al-Ittihad Al-Ishtirakiy Lilqawat Al-Sha'abiyah, French: Union Socialiste des Forces Populaires) is a social-democratic[1] political party in Morocco.

History and profile

The USFP was originally formed as a breakaway from the National Union of Popular Forces (UNFP), a Socialist opposition party which had itself split from the Istiqlal Party in 1959.[2] The USFP was established in 1975.[3][4]

The party won the 1997 parliamentary election.[5] Then the party led the government of Morocco with a centre-left coalition.[5] During this period Abderrahmane Youssoufi, the leader of the party, was the Prime Minister of Morocco.[5]

In the parliamentary election held on 27 September 2002, the party won 50 out of 325 seats, making it the largest party in the Moroccan parliament. Following those elections it formed a government with the Istiqlal party in a three-party coalition known as the "Koutla".

In the next parliamentary election, held on 7 September 2007, the USFP won 38 out of 325 seats, losing 12 seats and becoming only the fifth largest party in parliament.[6] The USFP was included in the government of Prime Minister Abbas El Fassi, formed on 15 October 2007.[7]

The USFP is a full member of the Socialist International[8] and an observer of the Party of European Socialists.[9]

In the run-up to the November 2011 parliamentary elections, the USFP sought to present a united front with the Party of Progress and Socialism (PPS) and Democratic Forces Front (FFD) to reverse the loss of support for the Moroccan left in the preceding years.[10] The party placed fifth, with 39 seats, in the 2011 elections.[11]

Electoral performance

Year Number of votes Percentage of votes Seats in the
House of Representatives		 Position in Parliament
1977
116,470
2.31
1 / 264
 Opposition
1984
550,291
12.39
35 / 301
 Opposition
1993
820,641
13.2
52 / 333
 Opposition
1997
884,061
13.9
57 / 325
 Leading government under Abderrahmane Youssoufi
2002
15.38
50 / 325
 Part of the government
2007
408,945
8.9
38 / 325
 Part of the government
2011
408,108
8.6
39 / 395
 Opposition
2016
367,622
5.06
20 / 395
 Opposition

References

  1. 1 2 3 El-Hussein A’boushi (2010), "The Socialist Union of Popular Forces Party in Morocco", Returning to Political Parties?, The Lebanese Center for Policy Studies, pp. 131–173, retrieved 1 December 2011
  2. ↑ Marvine Howe (2 June 2005). Morocco: The Islamist Awakening and Other Challenges: The Islamist Awakening and Other Challenges. Oxford University Press. p. 100. ISBN 978-0-19-534698-5. Retrieved 10 October 2014.
  3. ↑ Marvine Howe (2 June 2005). Morocco: The Islamist Awakening and Other Challenges: The Islamist Awakening and Other Challenges. Oxford University Press. p. 112. ISBN 978-0-19-534698-5. Retrieved 10 October 2014.
  4. ↑ "Moroccan Political Parties". Riad Reviews. Retrieved 10 October 2014.
  5. 1 2 3 Remy Leveau (December 1998). "A democratic transition in Morocco?". Le Monde diplomatique. Retrieved 10 October 2014.
  6. ↑ "Moroccans favor conservative party instead of ushering in Islamic party", Associated Press (International Herald Tribune), 9 September 2007.
  7. ↑ "Le roi nomme un nouveau gouvernement après des tractations difficiles", Agence France-Presse, 15 October 2007 (French).
  8. ↑ List of Socialist International parties in Africa Socialist International.
  9. ↑ Party of European Socialists official website
  10. ↑ "North Africa region daily news update". Aswat. 24 October 2011. Retrieved 30 October 2011.
  11. ↑ "Morocco". European Forum. Retrieved 10 October 2014.
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