Provisional results from Morocco’s parliamentary elections indicate a significant realignment of political power, with the Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM) emerging as the largest faction in the House of Representatives. The vote also saw a dramatic resurgence for the Justice and Development Party (PJD), while overall voter participation dropped to its lowest level in decades.
According to preliminary figures released Wednesday, PAM secured 97 seats, overtaking the National Rally of Independents (RNI), which fell from 102 seats in 2021 to 66. The Istiqlal Party also saw its representation shrink from 81 to 65 seats. In stark contrast, the PJD rebounded from just 13 seats in the previous legislature to 54, marking a striking recovery after its severe electoral collapse five years ago.
Voter engagement reached a historic low, with only 38.08 percent of registered voters casting ballots. This figure represents a sharp decline from the 50.86 percent turnout recorded in the 2021 elections and is the second-lowest participation rate since King Mohammed VI ascended the throne in 1999, trailing only the 37 percent seen in 2007.
The election took place against a backdrop of growing social and political frustration among Moroccans, particularly younger citizens mobilizing around issues such as employment, healthcare, education, and the cost of living. Analysts suggest that dissatisfaction with established parties, economic anxieties, and skepticism regarding the efficacy of electoral politics contributed to the mass disengagement.
Regional disparities in turnout were notable. While national participation languished, southern regions exhibited higher engagement, with Laayoune-Sakia El Hamra recording 77 percent participation and Dakhla-Oued Ed-Dahab reaching 61 percent.
Coalition Dynamics and Tensions
Under Article 47 of Morocco’s Constitution, the king is required to appoint the head of government from the party that finishes first in the House of Representatives. With 97 seats, PAM now holds the initial advantage in forming a government, although it falls well short of the 198 seats needed for an absolute majority.
The three parties that comprised the outgoing coalition—PAM, RNI, and Istiqlal—retain enough combined seats (228) to govern without external partners. However, the path to a new coalition is complicated by open hostility between PAM and RNI during the campaign. Despite governing together for five years, the two parties exchanged accusations and criticized each other’s records.
Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri, PAM’s national coordinator, stated she would refuse to join a government led by the RNI if that party had finished first, emphasizing that final alliance decisions rest with PAM’s National Council. Mohamed Mehdi Bensaid, another senior PAM official, echoed these sentiments. The rivalry extends beyond rhetoric, with RNI accusing PAM of poaching local officials ahead of the vote.
The PJD’s Strategic Position
The PJD’s return to the status of a major party adds further complexity to post-election negotiations. Once the dominant force with 125 seats in 2016, the party faced existential threats before its 2021 decline. Its current standing places it among the top four parties, though its influence remains far below its pre-2021 peak.
Historically, PAM has been viewed by PJD leaders as a vehicle designed to curb the Islamist party’s political rise. This perception was reinforced by the recent entry of Fouzi Lekjaa into PAM’s Political Bureau. Lekjaa, a prominent figure who leads the Royal Moroccan Football Federation and previously served as a nonpartisan minister delegate in charge of the budget, is now being linked to potential leadership roles in the next government.
Despite the political divide, Abdelilah Benkirane, the former PJD prime minister and current party leader, has characterized his relationship with Lekjaa as professional. Meanwhile, PJD parliamentary leader Abdellah Bouanou described their interaction as a good human and professional relationship.
Together, PAM, RNI, Istiqlal, and the PJD hold 282 of the 395 seats in parliament. Whether the PJD chooses to remain in opposition or join a governing coalition will depend on the outcome of upcoming negotiations. As coalition building commences, political observers note that understanding the reasons behind the unprecedented voter disengagement will require analysis beyond mere seat counts.
PAM leading doesn’t mean easy governing with RNI and Istiqlal. That coalition looks like a nightmare waiting to happen.
Interesting how the south turned out while the rest stayed home. Regional dissatisfaction seems quite varied across the country.
The PJD comeback is shocking! Who saw them rebounding from thirteen seats to fifty-four? Political landscape shifting fast.
Thirty-eight percent turnout is genuinely alarming. It signals deep disillusionment beyond just party politics.