While many of Morocco’s political elite were trying to explain the record low turnout in last week’s parliamentary elections, an Islamist movement that has stayed out of mainstream politics was feeling vindicated.

Al-Adl Wal Ihsan, which is thought to be the most popular Islamist organisation in the north African state, has persistently claimed it was pointless taking part in the formal political system without constitutional reform. It says its influence was probably one of the factors behind the 37 per cent turnout in Friday's poll.