Morocco: Ban welcomes peaceful conduct of legislative elections

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today commended the peaceful staging of legislative elections in Morocco and called for the incoming government to respond to the aspirations of the North African country’s people.

Moroccans voted on Friday to elect the 395 members of the Assembly of Representatives, or the country’s lower house of Parliament, in line with constitutional reforms proposed by King Mohammed VI earlier this year and approved by a public referendum in July.

The reform process was introduced after public demonstrations in Morocco in February, echoing the popular protest movement known as the Arab Spring that has swept North Africa and the Middle East this year.

In a statement issued today by his spokesperson, Mr. Ban welcomed the conduct of the polls and encouraged the government to be formed in the weeks ahead to implement the reforms outlined by the King and approved by the public.

The statement also called on the incoming government “to respond concretely to the legitimate aspirations of the people of Morocco, in close consultation with all national stakeholders, including the women and the youth.”