Moroccans elect new parliament, leaders in shadow of coronavirus

RABAT, Morocco – Moroccans chose a new parliament and local leaders Wednesday in elections that were reshaped by the pandemic, and whose outcome is hard to predict as opinion polls were not allowed. Candidates are promising to create jobs and boost Morocco’s economy, education and health care. The kingdom has been hit hard by the pandemic, but has Africa’s highest vaccination rate so far. Despite a dip in popularity in recent years, the governing Islamist party is eyeing a third term at the helm of the government.