Daughters of Politicians Dominate Istiqlal Party's Regional Lists
The recent decision by the Istiqlal Party to finalize its list of candidates for the upcoming legislative elections has sparked significant discussion at the local level. This controversy arises from the inclusion of candidates who are directly related to prominent party officials and parliamentarians, highlighting a potential trend of nepotism in Moroccan politics.
According to the available information, five female candidates have been nominated, all of whom have familial connections to well-known political figures within the Istiqlal Party. Among these candidates are the daughters of sitting parliamentarians and the sister of a prominent party leader. This selection has incited internal criticism regarding the criteria used for nominations and the visibility of political families in electoral contests.
In the Oriental region, the party has endorsed Latifa Tiyabi, daughter of Mohammed Tiyabi, who has served as the parliamentary representative for the Nador district during the 2021-2026 legislative term and is a recognized political figure in the area. Meanwhile, in the Beni Mellal-Khenifra region, the party has chosen Hala Zakrani to lead its regional list. Zakrani is the daughter of Mohammed Zakrani, the current parliamentary representative for Khouribga, who previously held a seat as a member of the Constitutional Union party before transitioning to Istiqlal.
The decision to appoint her to lead the party's list in Beni Mellal-Khenifra, coupled with her familial ties, raises questions about the candidates' on-ground presence in the regions they represent, especially considering her professional activities are based in Casablanca.
In the Souss-Massa region, the party has selected Kenza Qiyouh, daughter of former parliamentarian Zineb Qiyouh, from a well-known political family within Istiqlal. Zineb is the sister of Abdel-Samad Qiyouh, a noted party leader and parliamentarian, and their late father, Ali Qiyouh, also served in the House of Representatives. Kenza's professional engagement in Casablanca, particularly her involvement with the "Collectif 4.0" in cultural activities throughout 2026, has also prompted discussions about her candidacy amidst local party circles, especially when compared to other candidates with a more established presence in the region.
In the Marrakech-Safi region, the party has endorsed Salma Ahlouch, who is related to Abdel-Razaq Ahlouch, the Istiqlal parliamentary representative for the Al-Manara district in the current legislative term. The recurrence of such familial connections within several regional lists of the Istiqlal Party has reignited debates within local organizations concerning the criteria for distributing nominations, with critics labeling the practice as "seat inheritance". This has led to calls for prioritizing competency and organizational presence over familial ties in the political landscape.
As reported by ar.telquel.ma.
