First Independent Mena Newspaper
Leftist MP Habib El Malki of the USFP party was elected Monday Speaker of the Lower House of Parliament amid fears that such a decision may further complicate the stalling formation of a coalition government by Abdelilah Benkirane, Secretary General of the Islamist PJD party. Benkirane was appointed Head of Government by King Mohammed VI […]
Almost three months after the legislative elections of October 7, Morocco remains without a government. Secretary General of the Party for Justice and development and outgoing Head of Government, Abdelilah Benkirane, was designated by King Mohammed VI to form a cabinet, as stipulated by the 2011 Constitution. Benkirane has led consultations with several political parties […]
Following the October 7 general elections, women’s percentage at the House of Representatives slightly rose to account for 21% of seats compared to 17% in the 2011 elections. The number of seats occupied by women in the Moroccan parliament stands at 81 out the 395 total seats, of whom 71 made it to the House […]
King Mohammed VI of Morocco received on Monday Abdelilah Benkirane, Head of the moderate Islamist Party of Justice & Development (PJD), and appointed him Head of Government following the party’s victory in last week’s parliamentary elections. The Moroccan Sovereign also entrusted Mr. Benkirane with the task of forming a new government as stipulated by the […]
The United States, France and Spain, Morocco’s closest friends and strong allies, have congratulated the North African Kingdom for the free and fair democratic elections held Oct.07 to renew the country’s Parliament. “The United States congratulates Morocco for its continued commitment to democracy” US State Department said, reiterating the US administration’s resolve “to continue partnership […]
Morocco’s parliamentary elections unfolded with the incumbent moderate Islamist party, Justice and Development (PJD) coming first followed by liberal Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM) in a tight electoral race that makes government coalition formation an uphill battle for the PJD. A coalition between the PJD with 125 seats followed by the PAM with 102 seats […]
The legislative elections held on Friday October 7, 2016 unfolded in normal, smooth conditions. These were the remarks of the over 4,000 national and foreign observers who monitored the polls which they described as fair, honest and transparent and were not disrupted by any incident. Nearly 30 political parties run for these parliamentary elections, the […]
Despite frustration with its economic policy and conservative stances, the preliminary count of the votes shows a victory of the moderate Islamist Justice and Development Party (PJD) which came first in Morocco’s general elections taking 99 seats followed by its arch rival, the liberal Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM) with 80 seats. So far, 303 […]
In previous elections, the Justice and Development Party (PJD) has been banking on the integrity and chastity of its members to win votes and enlarge its support base. To the misfortune of the party, the 2016 parliamentary election bodes ill on the backdrop of a series of sex scandals involving senior party leaders. First, two […]
Morocco’s parliamentary elections approach on October 7 in a climate marked by fierce rivalry between the two main contending parties: the moderate Islamist Justice and Development Party (PJD) and the Secular Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM). This de facto polarization of the Moroccan partisan scene is manifested in the speculations on future coalitions led either […]