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2nd LD: Islamist ruling party wins parliamentary elections in Morocco

Xinhua, October 8, 2016 Adjust font size:

Morocco's ruling Islamist Justice and Development Party (PJD) led Friday's parliamentary elections, with 125 seats out of 395-seat parliament, the Interior Ministry said on Saturday.

The PJD's main rival, the liberal opposition Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM) took 102, while the Istiqlal Party got 46 seats. Smaller parties won the remaining seats.

The ministry said voter turnout stood at 43 percent.

Moroccan Prime Minister Abdelilah Benkirane announced Saturday that "democracy won in Moroccan elections" after the PJD has won 99 seats in the parliament, taking a prominent lead in the elections.

The country's last legislative elections were held in November 2011 and were also won by the PJD.

Both top contending parties made significant strides. The PJD raised the number of its seats in the parliament from 107 to 125. Its rival PAM made the most significant advance in the elections, increasing its seats from 47 to 102, an increase of 142 percent.

According to Morocco's constitution, passed in 2011 after Arab Spring uprisings, the winning party will lead the coalition government. The king appoints a prime minister from the biggest party in parliament after the election results are announced. Enditem