Morocco’s prime minister calls for wide participation in local elections

Morocco’s prime minister called on Tuesday for the people of his country to participate in the local and regional elections to be held later this week. Abdelilah Benkirane made his plea during an election rally in Fez.

He explained that his Justice and Development Party is working with its allies on political and constitutional reforms which, it is hoped, will overcome issues which constrain the political process, such as rampant bribery and corruption. Friday’s elections, he stressed, should help to complete the kingdom’s democratic process and enable all citizens to participate in the political life of the country.

The Islamist Justice and Development Party (PJD) won Morocco’s parliamentary elections for the first time in 2011 and formed a government which was approved by King Mohammed VI in January, 2012. Benkirane’s government has 13 ministers, 11 of whom are from the PJD, including one woman.