Low voter turnout expected as Moroccans head to the polls

Moroccans are voting in the country's first legislative election since the constitution was reformed to give parliament more power. The election, the second in north Africa since the Arab Spring uprisings began, sees the moderately Islamist Justice and Development party up against a coalition loyal to King Mohammed VI. 

Reuters/Youssef Boudlal

Voting is expected to be marred by tradionally low turnout as well as a boycott call by the pro-reform February 20 movement. During the last legislative elections in 2007, only 37 percent of eligible voters took part - and of those 19 per cent deposited blank ballots.

Observers say the Justice and Development will emerge as the most popular party after a similar success by a moderate Islamist party in Tunisia's first democratic election last month.

Its main rival is the Coalition for Democracy, an eight-party pro-monarchy bloc that includes two of the current five governing parties - the Popular Movement and Finance Minister Salaheddine Mezouar's National Rally of Independents.

The election comes less than five months after a July referendum overwhelmingly approved a new constitution proposed by the 47-year-old king.

The amended constitution gives parliament a greater role in the legislative process and strengthens the role of the prime minister, who now must be appointed by the king from the party which wins the most seats in the assembly.

The February 20 movement has called for a boycott on the referendum on the constitutional changes. It says the reforms do not go far enough and that the election will only give credibility to an undemocratic regime.

In all, 31 parties are vying for the 395 seats in the lower house of parliament - 70 more than during the last election in 2007.