Pro-monarchy party heads for victory in Morocco

 

TT-AFP

 

Published 08:03 | Updated 18:58

 

King Mohammed VI at the opening of the Moroccan parliament in 2022. Photo: Moroccan Royal Palace/AP/TT

The Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM) is heading for election victory in Morocco. The party is close to the royal household and is part of the coalition that held power prior to the election.

According to preliminary results, PAM has secured 97 seats in parliament. The National Rally of Independents (RNI), which leads the outgoing governing coalition, has won 66 seats, while the right-wing Istiqlal party has taken 65.

The Islamist opposition party (PJD) has secured 54 seats.

Despite certain reforms, Morocco's king retains a firm grip on power, and both PAM and RNI are close to the royal household.

Last summer, up to 80,000 people managed to cross from Morocco into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta. Spanish voices accused Morocco at the time of exploiting migrants as a form of hybrid warfare.