Morocco likely to become second Arab nation to bring Islamist party to power

Morocco, Nov 27(ANI): An Islamist party, Justice and Development Party (PJD) will likely win the first parliamentary elections in Morocco.

The PJD has won 80 seats out of 395 seats in Morocco Parliament with two-thirds of the votes counted till November 26.

Morocco will become the second Arab nation after Tunisia to bring an Islamist party to power, if PJD forms the government.

"It's a victory of the Moroccan people, victory for political reforms and victory for what we can call the third model of political reforms. It's a gradual, progressive approach to reform," the Wall Street Journal quoted PJD's policy committee head Mustafa Khalfi, as saying.

Forty-five percent of Moroccans voted in the November 26 poll, as compared to 37 percent voters during the 2007 elections.

Supporters of King Mohammed VI said the moderately increased interest in elected politics highlights that public support the constitutional reforms passed in a July referendum as genuine shift toward democracy.

The "February 20 Movement" activists had, however urged Moroccans to boycott the parliamentary polls until the king gives power to elected officials.

"Even with the PJD coming into power, I still think that the king has all the power. The PJD has never been ambitious in terms of separation of power and a real parliamentary monarchy," a February 20 Movement leader, Zineb Belmkadem said. (ANI)