Authenticity and Modernity Party Wins Morocco Parliamentary Elections

The Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM) emerged as the largest party in Morocco's legislative elections for the House of Representatives, securing 97 of the 395 available seats. According to provisional results released by the Interior Ministry, the National Rally of Independents, which led the outgoing government, suffered significant losses to finish second with 66 seats. The Istiqlal Party followed closely with 65 seats, while the moderate Islamist Justice and Development Party made a strong comeback, increasing its count from 13 seats in 2021 to 54.

Voter turnout fell to 38 percent, the lowest since 2007. While participation remained higher in southern provinces like Laâyoune-Sakia El Hamra and Dakhla-Oued Ed-Dahab, the overall decline is attributed to youth frustration over unemployment, poor public services, and the government's normalization of relations with Israel. The elections followed a period of instability marked by 2025 Gen Z protests and a mass migration event into the Spanish exclave of Ceuta.

Because no single party achieved an absolute majority, coalition negotiations are required to form a government. King Mohammed VI is constitutionally required to appoint a prime minister from the winning party. Potential candidates include Budget Minister and soccer federation president Fouzi Lekjaa and Minister of Urban Planning Fatima-Zahra Mansouri. The incoming administration must manage investments for the 2030 World Cup while addressing cost-of-living pressures. Although the interior ministry reported the process proceeded normally, the Left Alliance and the Moroccan Association for Human Rights documented irregularities, leading to two investigations in Tangier.