Morocco’s Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM) has won the largest number of seats in the country’s parliamentary election, according to provisional results released by the Interior Ministry on Thursday.
The party secured 97 of the 395 seats in the House of Representatives, Morocco’s lower house. The National Rally of Independents (RNI), which led the outgoing government, won 66 seats, while the Istiqlal Party took 65. The Justice and Development Party (PJD), a moderate Islamist party that won only 13 seats in the 2021 election, increased its representation to 54 seats.
The election was held Wednesday amid public concerns over employment, wages, housing, education and healthcare. The vote followed youth-led protests the previous year that highlighted dissatisfaction with economic and social conditions despite Morocco’s broader economic growth.
Turnout was about 38%, according to provisional official figures, marking a significant decline from the 50% recorded in the 2021 election.
PAM and Istiqlal were members of the parliamentary majority that supported the outgoing RNI-led government. PAM was founded in 2008 by Fouad Ali El Himma, a longtime adviser and childhood friend of King Mohammed VI, and has since become a major force in Moroccan politics.
Under Morocco’s constitutional system, the king appoints the prime minister from the party that wins the largest number of seats in legislative elections. However, PAM did not secure an outright majority, meaning coalition negotiations will be necessary before a new government can be formed.
The election result could therefore shape the composition of Morocco’s next government, which will face pressure to address unemployment, living costs and public services while overseeing major infrastructure and investment projects.
Morocco is also preparing to co-host the 2030 FIFA World Cup, adding further importance to the next government’s economic and development agenda.
The provisional results are expected to be followed by further electoral procedures and coalition discussions as political parties assess their options for forming the next government.
Swifteradio.com
