Spain urges Morocco to develop reforms after election

Spain's government has praised Morocco for the "incident-free" holding of legislative elections last Friday in an official communiqué reminding the winning party, the Islamist PJD, and the rest of the groupings with representation of their "responsibility to develop [...] the new Constitution to consolidate an advanced democracy with complete respect for human rights."

King Juan Carlos is also known to have telephoned Morocco's King Mohammed VI at the weekend. The two monarchs have enjoyed friendly relations over the years, with the Spanish king describing his younger counterpart as his "nephew" back in 1999.

Under the auspices of Mohammed VI, Morocco implemented constitutional reforms earlier this year in the wake of street protests, giving the next prime minister a greater degree of independence from the Royal Palace. The king must now ask the leader of the biggest party in the lower house to form a government, whereas in the past he has appointed a politician, or even a favored technocrat, at will.

For his part, PJD leader Abdelilah Benkirane hinted at a potentially tense relationship with Spain's incoming prime minister, the Popular Party's Mariano Rajoy. "We are neighbors and must understand each other, but with Mr Rajoy it could be more difficult."