New Moroccan party wins most local election seats

By Lamine Ghanmi

RABAT (Reuters) - A new Moroccan political party grouping King Mohammed's staunchest supporters won most seats in local elections after pushing opposition Islamists to the sidelines.

The Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM) won 6,015 seats, giving it 21.7 percent of the vote, ahead of the governing Istiqlal (Independence) party with 5,292 seats and 19.1 percent, Interior Minister Chakib Benmoussa said Saturday.

PAM, created last year by activists from five small parties and leftist intellectuals, has positioned itself as an alternative to the Islamists and Istiqlal, and sought to combat voter apathy with promises to follow through on policy commitments.

It is the brainchild of Fouad Ali Himma, a former deputy interior minister and close friend of King Mohammed, who has won strong backing at home and abroad for reforms to combat poverty, improve the business climate and bolster women's rights.

The king, in power for almost a decade, controls the levers of government as head of state and religious leader.

The vote was the first major test for the governing coalition of conservatives and socialists since the moderate Islamist Justice and Development Party (PJD) scored its best result in 2007.

Critics of Istiqlal Prime Minister Abbas el Fassi say his administration lacks energy and direction. The government lost its parliamentary majority last month when PAM withdrew support.

"KING'S SHADOW"