Morocco’s long-ruling party has suffered a crushing defeat to liberal rivals in the parliamentary elections, according to provisional results announced by the interior minister.
The Justice and Development Party (PJD) saw its support collapse from 125 seats to just 12, far behind its main liberal opponents, the National Rally of Independents (NRI) and the Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM), and the centre-right Istiqlal Party (PI). The results were announced early on Thursday.
At the NRI headquarters, celebrations erupted when it was announced by election officials that the party won at least 97 seats, so far the highest among the parties that contested the polls.
PAM ranked second with 82 seats closely followed by PI with 78.
Turnout in Wednesday’s parliamentary election was just over 50 percent, higher than in 2016.
