Former US Ambassador Praises Morocco’s Democratic Progress Under King Mohammed VI

"Congratulations to His Majesty, King Mohammed VI, for his wisdom, his advice and his passion for the democratic process. As the Kingdom of Morocco enters its third decade under His Majesty’s leadership, I am greatly proud to see the country having its most successful elections to date, with a record voter turnout," writes the American diplomat in a letter published on his Twitter account.

On Wednesday, some 18 million voters were called to the polls to renew Parliament. The turnout rate was 50.18% at the national level, up from the 2016 election (42.29%). According to the provisional results, the National Rally of Independents (RNI) led by businessman Aziz Akhannouch is the big winner of these legislative elections (102 seats obtained). With 87 seats obtained, the Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM) occupies the second position, followed by the Istiqlal Party (81 seats). As for the Justice and Development Party, the ruling party for a decade, it suffered a stinging defeat, dropping from 125 seats in the outgoing Assembly to 13.