Morocco's ruling party secures 2nd term

By Mohamed al-Taheri and Anas Mezwar

RABAT, Morocco

Morocco’s ruling Justice and Development Party (PJD) won the largest share of seats in the parliamentary election on Saturday, taking an expected 129 places in the House of Representatives.

Based on figures from the Interior Ministry and political parties, Prime Minister Abdelilah Benkirane’s party is due to take the largest share of seats in the 395-seat chamber -- 99 from constituencies and 30 from national lists designed to promote gender and youth representation.

The Authenticity and Modernity Party came second with 103 seats while the Independence Party secured 40 seats.

Interior Minister Mohamed Hassad said the turnout was 43 percent.

Friday’s vote was the kingdom’s second general election since the Arab Spring, when protests led to constitutional reform that delegated some of the King Mohammed VI’s powers to the prime minister. The PJD won the 2011 election and went on to form a broad coalition.