PRD11 Sep 2021 18:45
Morocco’s King Mohammed VI has named businessman Aziz Akhannouch to lead a new government after his liberal RNI party thrashed the long-ruling Islamists in parliamentary elections.
The king appointed Akhannouch “head of the government and tasked him with forming a new government”, following Wednesday’s polls, a statement from the palace said on Friday.
The RNI won 102 of parliament’s 395 seats, trouncing the moderate PJD Islamists, which had headed the governing coalition for a decade but took just 13 seats, according to results released by the interior ministry.
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Akhannouch hailed the results as “a victory for democracy”.
The billionaire businessman – worth $2bn according to Forbes – has led the RNI since 2016.
Morocco elections: Islamists suffer losses as liberal parties gain ground
His party is considered close to the palace and has been part of all coalition governments for the past 23 years, except during a brief period between 2012 and 2013.
After his win, Akhannouch pledged to improve conditions for citizens of Morocco, where entrenched social inequalities have been exacerbated by the pandemic.
“The main commitment of the party is to work seriously as long as we enjoy the confidence of citizens, to improve their daily lives, to achieve their aspirations and regain confidence in their representatives,” he said.
The economy shrank by 7.1 % in 2020 and the poverty rate shot up to 11.7 % during the lockdown.