Morocco’s Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM) emerged as the largest party in the country’s legislative elections, securing 97 seats in the 395-member House of Representatives, according to preliminary official results announced by the Interior Ministry.
Interior Minister Abdelouafi Laftit announced the results at a news conference in the capital Rabat early Thursday, providing the initial distribution of seats among the parties that contested the election.
Laftit said voting took place across Morocco under “normal conditions, except for isolated cases,” adding that those incidents did not affect the overall electoral process.
The National Rally of Independents (RNI) finished behind PAM with 66 seats, while the Istiqlal Party secured 65 seats.
The Justice and Development Party (PJD) came fourth with 54 seats.
Other parties also secured representation in the new parliament. The Popular Movement won 29 seats, followed by the Socialist Union of Popular Forces with 26. The Party of Progress and Socialism secured 19 seats, while the Constitutional Union obtained 17.
The Left Alliance and Social Democratic Movement each won eight seats. The Democratic Forces Front and Insaf Party secured two seats each, while the New Democrats and Unity and Democracy parties each won one seat.
The results will determine the composition of Morocco’s 395-member House of Representatives and begin the process of determining the political configuration of the country's next government.
PAM Overtakes RNI
The result represents a change from the previous legislative election in 2021, when the RNI emerged as the largest party with 102 seats.
PAM placed second in that election with 86 seats, while Istiqlal won 81.
RNI leader Aziz Akhannouch currently heads Morocco’s coalition government, which also includes PAM and Istiqlal.
With PAM now recording the largest number of seats, the new results create a different parliamentary configuration and will be followed by consultations over the formation of a governing majority.
Under Morocco’s constitutional system, the king appoints the head of government from the party that wins the largest number of seats in the House of Representatives.
However, no party secured the 198 seats required for a majority in the 395-member chamber. As a result, negotiations and consultations among political parties will be necessary to establish a governing majority.
The distribution of seats means that coalition-building will play an important role in determining the composition of the next government.
Voter Turnout Declines
The Interior Ministry reported nationwide voter turnout of 38.02%, representing a decline from the 50.18% recorded during the 2021 legislative elections.
Official figures showed that 15,801,162 voters were registered on the electoral rolls.
The turnout figure will form part of the broader assessment of the election, particularly as political parties prepare for negotiations over the formation of the next government.
Despite the lower participation rate, the Interior Ministry said the voting process proceeded under generally normal conditions, with Laftit describing the reported incidents as isolated and saying they did not affect the electoral process.
Formation of the Next Government
The election results now open a period of political consultations as parties assess possible alliances and negotiations for a governing majority.
With PAM holding 97 seats, RNI 66 and Istiqlal 65, the three parties collectively account for 228 seats. The previous governing coalition consisted of RNI, PAM and Istiqlal.
The new parliamentary arithmetic will therefore be closely watched as political parties determine whether existing cooperation can continue or whether the new distribution of seats will produce changes in the governing arrangement.
The constitutional process requires the appointment of a head of government from the party that has emerged with the largest number of seats. The subsequent formation of a cabinet will depend on consultations and the ability to assemble sufficient parliamentary support.
Challenges Ahead
The incoming government will face a range of political, economic and social issues as it begins its term.
Among the major projects on the national agenda will be preparations related to Morocco’s role as one of the co-hosts of the 2030 FIFA World Cup.
The tournament is expected to involve major infrastructure and organizational preparations, alongside broader economic and development initiatives.
The new government will therefore have to address domestic priorities while overseeing preparations connected to the international sporting event.
The election results mark an important shift in the balance of seats in Morocco’s House of Representatives compared with 2021. PAM’s rise from 86 seats to 97 places it at the top of the preliminary results, while RNI moves from 102 seats in 2021 to 66 in the latest results.
Istiqlal also moves from 81 seats in 2021 to 65.
The next stage will be the political consultations required to establish a governing majority and form the new government.
With no single party holding a majority, negotiations among Morocco’s political parties are expected to determine the shape of the country’s next governing coalition.
