Political Dynamics in Fes Ahead of 2026 Elections
The city of Fes has recently witnessed a notable political upheaval as the date for the legislative elections draws closer. According to exclusive sources from Belpresse, the upcoming electoral map for the southern district of Fes is becoming increasingly clear, with fierce competition anticipated among various political parties, both in the majority and the opposition, which have nearly finalized their candidate identities.
Sources indicate that the southern district of Fes, which holds four parliamentary seats, will see intense rivalry, particularly between the Independence Party, which is banking on maintaining its representation by re-nominating Ailal Amrani, the head of the parliamentary group, and the Authenticity and Modernity Party, which is positioning investor Aziz Al-Labbar as a candidate. This strategic move appears aimed at strengthening the party's foothold in the region.
In a related context, it has been revealed that the Socialist Union of Popular Forces will contest the elections in the same district with its candidate, Yasser Jawhar, who is the head of Fes city’s district. Meanwhile, the National Rally of Independents is putting forward Zina Shahim, the head of the Finance and Economic Committee in the Parliament, to lead the party's list in the district, succeeding the current MP Khaled Al-Ajli, who is still seeking party endorsement after being sidelined in favor of Shahim.
This shift within the “Hummingbird” Party reflects internal dynamics that may be influenced by precise electoral calculations, taking into account new factors relevant to the district, particularly with the presence of significant names like Zina Shahim, who has parliamentary experience and is among the close associates of the current party president, Mohammed Chouki. This situation could provide a strong boost for the party to regain parliamentary representation through regional lists, especially as the fifth article of the organic law of the House of Representatives prohibits women from running in districts where competition is fierce for one of the four seats.
The Justice and Development Party is also preparing to enter the elections in this district, where it previously secured a parliamentary seat during the legislative term from 2016 to 2021. It is anticipated that Idris Al-Azmi Al-Idrisi will be nominated, indicating the party's desire to regain its position in the district despite the political challenges it faces nationally.
These early party maneuvers can be interpreted as indicators that the southern district of Fes will serve as a battleground for a distinctive electoral struggle. It is being dubbed the “death district” in the region, not only due to the rivalry among traditional parties but also within the parties themselves, as observed with the National Rally of Independents. Furthermore, the return of the Justice and Development Party with a well-known candidate in the district could rearrange the electoral landscape locally, especially in the absence of any information regarding potential alliances or shifts in national coalitions.
In this context, Belpresse attempted to contact several candidates, but they declined to comment, with some considering it premature to discuss the matter, noting that months remain until the elections.
As reported by belpresse.com.
