Moroccan general election, 2011
- Party for Justice and Development ( 107 seats)
- Istiqlal (60 seats)
- National Rally of Independents (52 seats)
- Authenticity and Modernity Party ( 47 seats)
- Socialist Union of Popular Forces ( 39 seats)
- People's Movement (32 seats)
- Union Constitutionnelle (UC ) (23 seats)
- Party of Progress and Socialism (18 seats)
- Working Party ( 4 seats)
- Other ( 13 seats )
On 25 November 2011, the first parliamentary elections in Morocco took place in the wake of the Arab Spring, after a constitutional amendment.
Prehistory
The last parliamentary elections were held in September 2007. They were considered ordered and transparent, but the turnout was due to the complicated electoral system only 37 %. After the elections, five parties formed a coalition government together, Abbas El Fassi, leader of the strongest party Istiqlal, was appointed by the King of Morocco to the new Prime Minister.
Under the impact of the revolutions in Tunisia and Egypt demonstrated 20 February 2011 under the title " Day of Dignity " thousands of Moroccans for political reform and greater democracy. This led in some parts of the country to violent riots and deaths.
In response to the riots, King Mohammed VI announced. political reforms and terminated on 17 June 2011 before details of a constitutional reform, which was confirmed on July 1, 2011 in a referendum according to official figures by 98 percent of voters. According to the reform, the king gave a portion of his rights to the Parliament and the Prime Minister. He was also obligated to choose the prime minister from the party with the most seats in parliament. Moreover, the new Constitution provides for equal rights of the Berber language Tamazight with the Arab and a clearer separation of judicial and executive powers. However, the king remains despite some concessions in these areas even after the reform top military and religious authority.
In order to implement the reforms quickly, the parliamentary elections were brought forward by some ten months on the 25th of November 2011. Several opposition groups keep the reform for purely cosmetic changes and demand a parliamentary monarchy.
Choice
In the election a total of 395 parliamentary seats were awarded, of which 305 seats on party lists in 92 electoral districts. The remaining 90 seats are elected through a so-called national list; of which 60 seats for women and 30 seats are reserved for young MPs under 40.
Total came to the choice of 31 parties. As favorite for the parliamentary elections the moderate Islamist Party of Justice and Development, French Parti de la justice et du développement ( PJD ), as well as the conservative Istiqlal party and the party Alliance coalition for democracy were. In this eight party had joined forces, including the outgoing government parties popular movement and RNI.
Election result
Turnout was despite calls for a boycott of some opposition groups at about 45 %, which was compared with the last election increased significantly .. This percentage, however, refers only to the number of registered voters who, despite population growth of around 13.5 million lower than in 2007 (about. 15 million ). The voting age population as a whole is around 21 million.
The remaining 17 seats are distributed among ten other parties.
Government formation
On November 29, proclaimed king Mohammed VI. the PJD Secretary-General Abdelillah Benkirane as the new prime minister ( officially: Chef du Gouvernement ) of Morocco. Benkirane announced his intention to form together with the Istiqlal party of former Prime Minister El Fassi and the Socialist Union of Popular Forces, a coalition government.