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What Does Morocco's Election Mean for the U.S.?

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    How should the U.S. respond to their results?

  • Duration 4:33
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-- talk about some of the changes.

In the Arab world the Arab Spring the Middle East we.

Elections have been taking place and currently are taking place in several countries there.

Joining us now to talk about -- as -- former.

US ambassador to Morocco ambassador Ed Gabriel and ambassador thank you so much for taking.

Some tied it up talk to us about the elections going on there.

Well as you know Greg they had their elections last Monday.

In they were certified as free and fair.

In this comes on the heels of a new constitution.

That was passed by the people -- last July.

So this kind of -- historic moment for Morocco with this this latest election.

The the Islamist party actually got most of the vote or got the first vote -- 107 out of 309 -- five.

So that means they're going to have to find a coalition.

Of partners probably from the moderate parties there -- 34 parties in the election process so it was quite robust and down.

It looks like it's good beginning for.

This new government under the new constitution.

-- this.

It Islamist party.

It PJD.

Justice and development party.

Tell me a little bit more about them what their agenda is.

Yeah -- what we you have to look at this party in context of Morocco Morocco is not Tunisia it's not Egypt.

The in Morocco the commander of the faithful the person in charge of all religious -- was is the king.

Which is unusual for the region.

The PG AD did not run on -- religious platform they ran on a platform of increasing jobs.

And also social and political reforms anti corruption.

They acknowledge.

The legitimacy.

Of the constitution in this regard and religion -- some.

Legitimacy that the constitution gives the king.

As the final say.

-- -- religious matters.

The new prime minister was so I was confirmed on Monday from that -- then Koran mr.

-- Koran.

And he immediately said that his job was not to provide.

Commentary inside the mosque his job was to find jobs for his people.

So in that sense if you're trying to assess what this party is.

I would almost say there's like the Christian Democrats of Europe in that sense.

How do these elections impact the overall security in the region.

Well look there's -- no doubt that there the security problem is on the rise we have security problems other kidnappings and killings still going on in and in increasingly so we can't take this lightly.

Arms.

Qaddafi arms out of Libya are finding its way to al-Qaeda now we have proof of that.

In most recent lease three people from Europe three aid workers from Europe.

Were kidnapped by the rebel group the -- group which are in camps.

In southern Algeria.

So in general ham is good our had a -- com.

The US had a head of Africa Imus said that and we're in a fairly dangerous situation now.

So we've got to take this seriously and it's really at the time.

When.

More openness is going nine and we're moving from.

Kind of a security orientation to more of an openness reform.

Movement.

That can be our most dangerous time and it's we've got to worry about this transition to make sure we balance.

The security needs with the needs of the people for more openness so I guess you could say that.

And there is there's there's a challenge going on now between.

Whether or not people are going to get change through the vote or people are gonna get change through extremism and and violence Morocco has another smooth process going nine.

Thanks to decades by this king and his father towards reform so they they enjoy it just jump into this.

You know with the Arab Spring and I think that's really helped them a great deal now with so -- measure will be taken to the ballot -- -- not through violence.

And that's -- Gabriel a former US ambassador Morocco best of luck to you thanks so much thank you Greg.

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