Shift in Political Dynamics in Marrakech-Safi
In a significant shift from the electoral landscape in Marrakech and its surrounding districts, the Party of Authenticity and Modernity (PAM) has successfully extended its influence into the northern and western provinces of the region, namely Rhamna, Chichaoua, and Essaouira. In stark contrast, the outgoing government's party leaves the ochre city empty-handed, finding solace instead in the provinces where it managed to secure the top position in Al Haouz while also gaining seats in three additional constituencies. The Justice and Development Party (PJD), which faced a substantial defeat in 2021, made a notable comeback, successfully electing representatives in every constituency. This electoral outcome was revealed during the official announcement of the provisional results early Thursday morning, September 24, by Khatib El Hebil, the wali of the Marrakech-Safi region, which was widely anticipated by many voters.
Marrakech, a stronghold for Fatima Zahra Mansouri, the city’s mayor and a prominent figure in the PAM, provided the party with a clear advantage going into the elections. Although the count at that time reflected only 80% of the voting stations, the PAM had already taken a lead with ten seats. Following closely were the PJD and the Istiqlal Party, each securing seven seats, while the National Rally of Independents (RNI), the party of the outgoing prime minister, found itself in a tie with the Unified Socialist Party (USFP). Out of the 46 deputies that Marrakech-Safi is set to send to the House of Representatives, no single party will be able to claim to represent the entirety of the region, which reflects the fractured nature of voter sentiment.
Voter Turnout and Youth Engagement
The division of the nine seats in the city was equal among three parties, with each constituency represented by one member from the PAM, one from the Istiqlal, and one from the PJD. In the constituency encompassing the Medina and Sidi Youssef Ben Ali districts, Mansouri led the way, accompanied by Istiqlal’s Abdelaziz Derouich and PJD’s Salaheddine Ayache. In Guéliz Ennakhil, Mohamed Sabbari emerged victorious for the PAM, boasting a lead of over 3,000 votes against the PJD's Mohamed Mounir Ouarzazi, while Istiqlal’s Anas El Houaji secured the third seat. The most competitive race occurred in Menara, where Tarik Hanich reclaimed the lead for the PAM with a margin of approximately 2,300 votes. Mohamed Toufla from the PJD and Abderrazak Ahlouch from Istiqlal rounded out the representation there. Beneath this apparent equilibrium lies a striking shift: the RNI, which had held three seats in the city since 2021, has returned empty-handed, while the PJD has made a significant comeback with one elected representative in each constituency.
In the provinces outside Marrakech, the PAM has further solidified its position. In Rhamna, Azeddine Midaoui has established a notable lead for the party, claiming nearly 11,500 votes, significantly outpacing the USFP and RNI, who split the remaining two seats. Hicham Mouhajiri, a senior PAM executive, confirmed his stronghold in Chichaoua, where he received over 24,000 votes, more than double that of RNI's Marouane Jennah. In Essaouira, two of the three seats were won by newcomers to the Parliament, with Ibrahim Benjelloun leading the PAM with close to 14,800 votes. Meanwhile, the RNI's Tarik El Othmani was also elected, while USFP's Mohamed Mellal retained his previous seat. The PJD, however, finished sixth in the city, garnering less than 5,800 votes.
In Al Haouz province, the Colombe party topped one of the four-seat constituencies, ahead of PAM, Istiqlal, and the PJD, according to unofficial results. This was one of the few positive outcomes for the RNI in the region that evening. In Safi, as we went to press, the PJD was leading all competitors with over 14,000 votes, while the PAM and USFP were neck and neck, separated by fewer than 300 votes, with UC and Istiqlal trailing behind. In the Sraghna Zemrane constituency, the Istiqlal party triumphed, with Ayachi Farfar receiving over 17,000 votes, followed by PAM's Abderrahim Ouamrou and Istiqlal's Abderrahim Toussi, who managed to reclaim a seat lost in 2021. The most significant setback was for Mokhtar Benfaida, the outgoing RNI deputy, who fell to fourth place after previously securing over 34,000 votes five years ago, now collecting only about 9,700 votes.
It is notable that the rate of abstention in the Marrakech-Safi region exceeded the number of voters who performed their civic duty. The regional participation rate stood at 39.33%, slightly exceeding the national average, but it dropped to 34.71% within Marrakech prefecture, where nearly two-thirds of registered voters abstained from the polls. The mobilization was notably late, with the regional turnout peaking at just 22% by 3 PM, and it was not until the final hours of the election that voters began to flock to the polls. The issue of blank and null votes also played a significant role; in Chichaoua alone, 16,818 ballots were annulled, nearly double the votes required for the Istiqlal to secure its fourth seat in the province. Such disillusionment, following a campaign that focused on unemployment and the high cost of living, speaks volumes about the electorate's mistrust in the political offerings. Observers noted that the parties involved have failed to regain the trust of voters, particularly among the youth.
On September 23, less than four out of ten registered voters in the Marrakech-Safi region cast their ballots, a rate that barely exceeds the national average of 38.08% and is significantly lower than the 50% recorded in 2021. This decline underscores the silent disengagement of a generation. Over the past five years, the percentage of 18 to 24-year-olds among registered voters has been halved. However, this youth demographic has not remained silent; they voiced their concerns on the streets during the autumn of 2025 with the Gen Z 212 movement, and in late July, tens of thousands attempted to reach the Spanish-occupied enclave.
As reported by leseco.ma.
