RABAT, Morocco — The campaign for Morocco’s parliamentary election launched on September 10, with 27 political parties vying for 395 seats in the House of Representatives. More than 15.8 million registered voters are set to cast their ballots on September 23, a vote that will shape the legislature and play a pivotal role in forming the next government.
Beyond the partisan contest, the election serves as a critical barometer for public confidence in a political system that citizens increasingly expect to address daily hardships. This dynamic is especially pronounced among younger Moroccans, where trust in institutions remains fragile despite higher rates of digital political engagement.
An Afrobarometer survey released in March indicated that approximately one-third of Moroccans aged 18 to 35 expressed confidence in Parliament, the prime minister, and political parties. While this demographic is more likely than older citizens to share political content online and attend demonstrations, surveys suggest the key issue is whether they view electoral politics as a viable path to solving their problems.
Constitutional Framework and Power Dynamics
Morocco’s electoral process operates under the constitutional monarchy established in 2011, which defines the state as a democratic, parliamentary, and social monarchy while maintaining the king’s central institutional authority.
Under Article 47 of the constitution, the monarch appoints the head of government from the party securing the most seats in the House of Representatives. The king also presides over the Council of Ministers, whereas the government holds executive power and Parliament manages legislative and oversight duties. Consequently, while winning the largest seat count is essential for government formation, the parliamentary outcome does not exclusively dictate the distribution of political power.
A Youthful Population Facing Structural Barriers
The age demographics of the electorate add urgency to questions of political participation. Although official registers show that those aged 18 to 24 constitute only 4% of voters compared to 29% for those aged 60 and above, these figures reflect registration rather than turnout, highlighting an older registered base.
Compounding this is a severe youth employment crisis. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) reported that national unemployment stood at 13% in 2025, but jobslessness among 15-to-24-year-olds soared to 37.3%. Additionally, 25.2% of young people were classified as not being in employment, education, or training during the third quarter of 2025. The IMF further cited skills mismatches, weak private-sector dynamism, and significant gender disparities in labor market participation as systemic issues.
For young citizens struggling to find work, campaign promises regarding growth and purchasing power are not abstract concepts but measures of whether the state can deliver visible opportunities.
Economic Frustration and Social Unrest
Tensions have occasionally spilled beyond formal politics. In late July, approximately 60,000 people crossed from Morocco into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta, marking the largest surge in recent history. Reuters reported that the event was linked to economic hardship, social unrest, and misinformation regarding Spanish migration laws, illustrating how economic expectations and migration aspirations intersect.
This backdrop frames the election’s economic debate: whether Morocco’s recent growth spurt and large-scale development projects are creating opportunities that resonate in the everyday lives of its youth.
While the IMF estimates real GDP grew by 4.9% in 2025 and projects a 4.4% increase in 2026, the benefits have not sufficiently translated into job creation, leaving high unemployment as a persistent challenge.
Party Platforms and the Fight for Renewal
Employment and living standards are the centerpiece of the platforms for the three parties in the current governing coalition: the National Rally of Independents (RNI), the Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM), and Istiqlal.
The RNI’s 2026–2031 program pledges the creation of one million jobs and a gradual rise in the minimum wage to 5,000 dirhams ($530) monthly. PAM has similarly committed to generating at least one million jobs, with a five-year program cost estimated at 350 billion dirhams ($37.1 billion). Istiqlal has focused its campaign on purchasing power and public services, proposing reforms in healthcare, housing, water management, and food security.
Meanwhile, the Justice and Development Party (PJD), led by former Prime Minister Abdelilah Benkirane, is attempting to rebuild its base after a steep decline. The PJD dropped from 125 seats in the previous parliament to just 13 in the 2021 election, which saw the RNI win 102 seats, PAM 87, and Istiqlal 81.
The PJD’s new program outlines 467 measures across five axes covering institutional, economic, social, and foreign policy, emphasizing concrete reforms over numerical targets.
The Test of Governance
The upcoming vote will ultimately test whether Morocco’s political system can maintain a credible link between its ambitious development agenda and the expectations of a citizenry demanding immediate results. With traditional electoral politics competing with other forms of expression among disillusioned youth, the challenge for the next government is turning investment into productive employment.
Nouh El Harmouzi, an economic researcher, cautioned that the issues at hand require more than campaign rhetoric. “Morocco’s economic problems are fundamentally structural and cannot be resolved through short-term electoral promises,” he stated.
The skills mismatch is the key issue here. More degrees won’t fix unemployment if the private sector isn’t hiring.
Will this election actually change anything? The King still holds all the real power regardless of who wins.
I was surprised by that massive Ceuta crossing. It really shows how desperate the economic situation has become.
Thirty-seven percent youth unemployment is unacceptable. Growth means nothing if young people are left behind.