The Hill News

Against a backdrop of continuing turmoil and expanding terror ties in the region, critical elections took place in Morocco, Tunisia, and Egypt that will have profound consequences for North Africa, the US, and Europe. In all three, Islamist parties made a strong claim to national leadership, as people opted for change through voting rather than violence.

For many observers, the victories of Islamist parties in all three polls raised as many questions as it answered. But like most labels, reports of an “Islamist” trend don’t begin to capture the significant differences and realities moving the region.

Case in pointâ€"Morocco, which went to the polls November 25 to elect a new Parliament. It was an historic milestone for the country, coming on the heels of a new Constitution proposed by King Mohammed VI, which Moroccans overwhelmingly approved July 1. In a peaceful election, contested by 34 parties and certified free and fair by 4,000 observers, Morocco! ’s PJD (Justice and Development Party) won the most seats, 107 out of 395. 

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