The leader of Islamist Justice and Development Party (PJD), Abdelilah Benkirane, said he would start his consultations with political parties to form a new government "without delay."

King Mohammed VI received Benkirane on Monday at the Royal Palace in Casablanca, Morocco's largest city, and named him prime minister for a second term with the task of forming a new government.

"We hope to succeed these consultations together," Benkirane told the media, adding that "the king has once again appointed me to head the government and I hope that I will succeed in this mission."

With the appointment, the ruling PJD has become the first party in the modern history of the north African kingdom to lead a coalition government for a second consecutive term.

According to Morocco's constitution, passed in 2011 after the so-called Arab Spring uprisings, the king will name a prime minister from the biggest party in parliament after the election results are announced.

The PJD led Friday's polls, securing 125 seats out of 395, up from 107 in 2011.

The liberal opposition Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM), the PJD's main rival, won 102 seats, while the Istiqlal party took 46.

The PJD-led government enforced a number of unpopular policies in the last five years, particularly the pension reform and the decision to cut subsidies on several products.

(Xinhua News Agency October 10, 2016)