Morocco's liberal NRI (National Rally of Independents) party, led by billionaire agriculture minister Aziz Akhannouch, has won most seats in the country's parliamentary elections. The other liberal party PAM came in close. Despite a dip in popularity in recent years, the governing Islamist party is eyeing a third term at the helm of the government if it again wins the most parliament seats.
Candidates have promised to create jobs and boost Morocco's economy, education and health care. Candidates were limited in their campaigning due to the COVID-190 pandemic
Preliminary results have shown that RNI has won 97 seats in the 395-seat parliament, followed by PAM with 82 seats and the conservative Istiqlal with 78 seats, an AFP report reads. The PJD's support slid from 125 seats to just 12. the PJD wasn't successful in removing the laws it opposed like bolstering the French language in education and another to allow cannabis for medical use.
The kingdom has been hit hard by the pandemic but has Africa's highest vaccination rate so far.
Morocco is a constitutional monarchy, but, the king holds sweeping powers. Mohammed VI will pick the prime minister from the party that wins the most seats. The palace also sets the economic agenda for the country.
The turnout of this year's elections was at 50.03 per cent, an improvement from the turnout for the 2016 elections, which was at 43 per cent.
Two security officers were stationed outside polling stations, and a poll worker would take voters' temperatures before letting them in.
Once inside, voters are asked to provide their identity cards and hand over their phones before entering the booth.
They were required to use a hand sanitiser, wear a mask and keep 1-meter distances.
Candidates weren't allowed to distribute leaflets and had to limit campaign gatherings to a maximum of 25 people. As a result, many stepped up efforts on social media instead.
Morocco has registered more than 13,000 COVID-19-related deaths since the start of the pandemic, according to figures from the Moroccan Health Ministry.
The election was contested by 31 parties and coalitions, who were competing for the 395 seats in the lower house of parliament.
-- With PTI inputs
