Morocco prepares for an election Friday likely to witness a strong showing by a moderate Islamist party but the poll risks being marred by low turnout after a boycott call by a protest group born of the Arab Spring uprisings. It is the first election since a new constitution, proposed by King Mohamed VI as regimes in neighboring countries were being swept away and was overwhelmingly approved in a July 1 referendum. The amended constitution gives more powers to parliament and the prime minister, who now must be appointed by the king from the party which wins the most seats in the assembly. Opinion polls are not allowed in the north African kingdom but observers said the opposition Justice and Development Party could take the largest number of seats. It came in third place in the 2002 elections with 42 seats and second place during the last elections in 2007 with 47 seats Party officials have said they believe they can win over 100 seats in the 395-seat parliament this time around. The party's main rival is the Coalition for Democracy, a loose eight-party pro-monarchy bloc that includes the Party of Authenticity and Modernity which was founded a year after the last elections by one of the king's right-hand men, Fouad Ali Al-Himma. Many voters said they did not plan to vote for any party because they had no faith that lawmakers would work to improve their lives. “I am not going to vote and I say it with my head held high,” said Aicha, a housewife in the mountain village of Tiddas who declined to give her last name. – APThe parties at a glanceJustice and Development Party: Morocco's legal Islamist Party first competed in elections in 1997 and has slowly grown its parliamentary presence with a reputation for being honest outsiders looking to clean up the government. National Rally for Independents: Created by King Hassan II in 1978 by putting all independents in a single party, the RNI has a liberal ideology and it is known mainly for supplying the government with technocrat ministers. ace parties in the “Group of Eight” alliance. Party of Authenticity and Modernity: Created in 2009 out of several smaller parties by a confidant of the king, the PAM dominated local and upper house elections in 2009 with the backing of the administration and was pegged as the emerging ruling party. Istiqlal Party: Founded in 1944, the right of center Istiqlal is the historic party of independence and once dominated Moroccan politics. It has strong support of traditional voting networks. Socialist Union of Populr Forces: was once Morocco's main opposition party but has since participated in several governments tarnishing its independent image. A leadership crisis has in past contests has slipped to fourth place. __
