Washington, November 30, 2011 (MAP)
Washington, November 30, 2011 (MAP)
Republican congressman Michael G. Grimm congratulated, on Wednesday, Morocco on holding “free and fair” parliamentary election, calling for strengthening the “historic” US-Morocco relations.
Moroccans cast their votes on Friday in the first legislative poll after the adoption of the new Constitution last July, which further reinforces the powers of the Parliament and the Prime Minister. The voter turnout stood at 45.4% of 13.5 million registered voters.
“Voting was conducted on Friday November 25th and deemed free and fair by thousands of domestic and international observers,” said Grimm in a statement obtained by Morocco’s news agency MAP.
He also voiced will to work with the new Moroccan Parliament “to strengthen the historic US-Morocco bilateral relationship.”
With 107 seats in the 395-seat House of Representatives, the Justice and Development Party (PJD) won a landslide victory in Morocco’s legislative election.
Scrutineers of the National Democratic Institute (NDI) said last Friday’s poll was “conducted transparently” and “professionally organized,” while a delegation of observers from the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) confirmed that a calm atmosphere of free choice marked the holding of this election.
The U.S. administration had extended, last Saturday, congratulations to the Moroccan people on the success of the legislative elections held on Friday.
“I congratulate the Moroccan people on the successful completion of Friday’s parliamentary elections,” U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said in a statement.
She added: “now, working with King Mohammed VI, the new parliament and civil society can implement the amended constitution as a step toward fulfilling the aspirations and rights of all Moroccans.”
Clinton underlined that “the hard work of building democracy does not end when the votes are tallied and the winners announced.”
“The United States stands ready to work with the new parliament and the people of Morocco to strengthen the rule of law, raise human rights standards, promote transparent and accountable governance, and work toward sustained, democratic reform,” she said.
