Morocco's Islamists win parliamentary elections

Prime Minister Benkirane's PJD party beat rival Authenticity and Modernity Party by 23 seats.

1 min read

08 October, 2016

Prime Minister Abdelilah Benkirane's PJD secured 125 seats against 102 for its main rival [Getty]

Morocco's ruling Islamist party won the country's parliamentary elections by 23 seats, ending the country's coalition rule.

The Justice and Development Party (PJD) won 125 seats and its rival, the Authenticity and Modernity Party (AMP) won 102, the country's interior ministry announced on Saturday.

The interior ministry reported that voter turn-out was 43 percent of the electorate of nearly 16 million voters.

The PJD is headed by Prime Minister Abdelilah Benkirane, who led a coalition government for the last five years.

Benkirane told reporters he attributed his success to his party's seriousness and honesty and "loyalty to the institutions, particularly the monarchy".

The Authenticity and Modernity Party had largely campaigned against "Islamisation" and growing concerns about corruption in the country.

This was the second election in Morocco's recent history, coming five years after elections that followed protests inspired by the Arab Spring.

In 2011, protests erupted across the country as citizens called for governmental reform and limits on King Mohammad's powers.