Late into the night on September 23, Said Amzazi, the wali of the Souss-Massa region, convened a press conference to announce the official results of the legislative elections in the Agadir Ida-Outanane prefecture and the broader Souss-Massa regional constituency. The local Agadir Ida-Outanane district had called upon 284,543 voters to cast their ballots for four deputies from a pool of 80 candidates spread across 20 lists. When the polling stations closed at 7:00 PM, only 76,442 voters had participated, marking a participation rate of just 26.89%. This figure represents a significant drop from the 36.01% recorded during the 2021 elections, signaling a clear decline in civic engagement.
Out of 63,268 valid votes cast—after accounting for 13,174 null ballots—and with the electoral quotient set at 71,135, the Justice and Development Party (PJD) emerged as the frontrunner with 24% of the votes. This marked a notable comeback for the party, which had been striving to regain its footing following the setbacks of 2021. Following the PJD, the National Rally of Independents (RNI) garnered 17.71%, while the Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM) received 17.21%. The United Socialist Party (USFP) secured 11.71%, the Istiqlal party achieved 9.5%, and the Progressive Socialist Party (PPS) managed 8.19%.
The contrast to the 2021 elections is striking. Five years ago, the RNI dominated with 50,832 votes, claiming a seat alongside the PAM, Istiqlal, and PPS. This time, however, the dove party found itself in second place, closely followed by the PAM. The regional constituency of Souss-Massa tells a different story altogether. Out of 1,330,784 registered voters, 499,846 participated, resulting in a participation rate of 37.56%, significantly higher than that of the Agadir prefecture. Among the 428,796 valid votes, the Istiqlal party took the lead with 23.06%, closely trailed by the RNI at 22.57%, and the PAM at 21.54%. The PJD ranked fourth with 19.69%, indicating a tightly contested race that highlights the region's competitive landscape and the fragmentation of voter support.
These results indicate a reshaping of the regional political landscape. The RNI, the ruling party with deep roots in the region, remains resilient, albeit not as dominant as in 2021. The PJD's significant return in the Agadir prefecture suggests that urban voters continue to place their trust in it despite its years in opposition. The PAM has solidified its presence in both constituencies, while the Istiqlal, benefiting from its historical roots in the region, has taken the lead at the regional level. The notably low voter turnout in Agadir remains a critical issue, with only one in four voters participating. This serves as a wake-up call for all political parties to reflect on their strategies as they prepare for future electoral challenges.
As reported by lavieeco.com.
