RABAT: Morocco’s Islamists came first in regional elections seen as a test of their popularity after nearly four years in power, but trailed the liberal opposition in municipal polls, results showed Saturday.

Friday’s double elections were viewed as a gauge of the political climate ahead of a general election next year.

They come four years after Arab Spring protests ushered in constitutional reforms by the monarchy in the North African nation.

Prime Minister Abdelilah Benkirane’s Justice and Development Party (PJD) won 25.6 percent of 678 seats in regional councils.

The Party of Authenticity and Modernity (PAM), a liberal opposition party founded by a politician close to the king, came second with 19.4 percent.

It was the first opportunity for Moroccan voters to elect their regional councillors directly. The PJD came first in five of Morocco’s 12 regions, including in Casablanca, Rabat and Fez, cities with large populations.

In the municipal polls, however, the PAM came first with 21.1 percent of 31,503 seats, while the conservative opposition Istiqlal Party followed with 16.2 percent.

The PJD came third with 15.9 percent.

Earlier the interior ministry had said a tally of 80 percent of the overall votes indicated the PAM was leading.