Opposition Socialists Lead in Early Returns for Morocco Parliament

Opposition Socialist candidates appeared today to be heading for an early lead in preliminary results of voting for Morocco’s new parliament, where for the first time Islamists will also have a voice.

Interior Minister Driss Basri told reporters that of the first 125 results known for the 325-member assembly, the Socialist Union of Popular Forces from the Koutla opposition bloc had taken 32 seats, the highest figure.

And he effectively confirmed a surprise claim by Islamist leader Abdelilah Benkirane that his movement had won at least five seats, the first such presence of Islamists in the assembly.

Members of Benkirane’s group, Unity and Reform, stood under the umbrella of Ahdelkrim Khatib’s Democratic and Constitutional Popular Movement.

Basri said Khatib’s movement had won a total of six seats so far.

Friday’s direct election was for the lower house of parliament in the new two-chamber system being introduced in the country, an idea of King Hassan II’s to spread democracy and give more say to the countryside, home to nearly half of Morocco’s work force but where illiteracy is widespread and basic facilities are far behind those of urban regions.

The blocs are the pro-government Wifaq, the Koutla opposition and the Center.

Basri said the Wifaq heavyweight, the Constitutional Union, had taken 20 seats, the centrist National Rally of Independents 15 seats and the other main Koutla party, Istiqlal, 12 seats.