Morocco’s King Mohammed VI  tasked Abdelilah Benkirane to keep his post as prime minister and form a new government after his Islamist party won last week’s parliamentary elections. Benkirane’s Islamist Justice and Development Party (PJD) took 125 seats out of 395 in Friday’s polls, beating its main rival, the Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM), which had campaigned against the “Islamisation” of Moroccan society.

• The appointment comes in line with the constitution which says that the king — the scion of a monarchy that has ruled the North African country for 350 years and who holds real power — chooses the prime minister from the biggest party in parliament.
• Although it clinched the most seats in Friday’s vote, the PJD did not secure absolute majority 198 seats and therefore must forge a coalition with other parties.

Do you know?

• Morocco was an authoritarian regime according to the Democracy Index of 2014. Morocco, a North African country bordering the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea, is distinguished by its Berber, Arabian and European cultural influences.
• Geographically, Morocco is characterized by a rugged mountainous interior and large portions of desert.
• It is one of four countries (with Portugal, Spain and France) to have both Atlantic and Mediterranean coastlines.
• Morocco is a constitutional monarchy with an elected parliament.
• The King of Morocco holds vast executive and legislative powers, especially over the military, foreign policy and religious affairs.
• Executive power is exercised by the government, while legislative power is vested in both the government and the two chambers of parliament, the Assembly of Representatives and the Assembly of Councillors.
• The king can issue decrees called dahirs which have the force of law.
• He can also dissolve the parliament after consulting the Prime Minister and the president of the Constitutional court.
• The Moroccan Constitution provides for a monarchy with a Parliament and an independent judiciary. With the 2011 constitutional reforms, the King of Morocco retains less executive powers whereas those of the prime minister have been enlarged.
• Capital: Rabat
• King: Mohammed VI of Morocco
• Official language: Arabic
• Currency : Moroccan dirham