Islamists win 80 seats in ‘transparent’ Morocco elections

Special to WorldTribune.com

CAIRO — The leading Islamic opposition party has claimed victory in
Morocco’s parliamentary elections.

The Justice and Development Party said it gained more seats than any
other group running in Morocco’s elections, meant to elect a 395-member
parliamentary. The party is said to have won some 27 percent out of the 288
seats decided in elections on Nov. 25.

Abdul Ilah Benkirane, secretary-general of Morocco's Islamist Justice and Development Party (PJD). /AFP/Chafik Arich

“We thank the Moroccans who voted for the PJD and we can only be satisfied,” Justice and Development Party secretary-general Abdul Ilah Benkirane said.

Interior Minister Tayeb Cherkaoui confirmed the victory by Justice and Development, saying it had won 80 seats. Cherkaoui, who reported an election turnout of 45 percent, deemed the elections — in which 31 parties ran candidates — free and transparent.

“The election took place in a normal context, under a climate of
mobilization and a sense of responsibility,” Cherkaoui said on Nov. 26.

Party leaders said Justice and Development won in most cities around the North African kingdom. They said the movement, ruled out as a coalition partner by members of the current Moroccan government, was expected to win
100 seats after all the ballots were counted.

“The figures which we have allow us to say that we will have over 100
seats,” Justice and Development parliamentary whip Lahcen Daoudi, said.

The Islamist opposition movement achieved by far the largest
representation in parliament. The runner-up was the Independence Party, led
by Prime Minister Abbas El Fassi, with 45 seats.

Officials said final elections results would be released on Nov. 27.
They said Moroccans largely ignored opposition appeals for a boycott on
grounds that parliament would have insufficient authority. King Mohammed said he would approve all
decisions in the area of economy, security and religion.

“The public powers did everything to ensure that this vote was a healthy
and transparent democratic moment,” Communications Minister Khalid Naciri
said.

This marked the second victory of the Muslim Brotherhood-aligned
opposition in North Africa. The Islamist opposition has already captured
parliament in Tunisia and was expected to do the same in Egypt in elections
on Nov. 28.

Justice and Development was said to be based on Turkey’s ruling Justice
and Development Party. The Moroccan Islamic movement changed its platform
from a ban on the sale of alcohol to promises to fight corruption and
unemployment.

“We have to wait for the final results because there was a lot of
fraud,” Mustafa El Khalfi, a member of the Moroccan Islamic movement’s
political bureau, said.

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