As Morocco approaches the opening of nominations for the September 23, 2026 parliamentary elections, tensions have escalated between the two main parties in the ruling coalition, sparking a war of statements following accusations from the National Rally of Independents (RNI) against its ally, the Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM). The RNI has openly accused PAM of employing methods of coercion and intimidation to sway its deputies, candidates, and leadership.
The statement issued by the RNI after a meeting of its political bureau noted that such practices undermine the ethics of political work and the rules of democratic competition. It further emphasized that attempting to lure members from its political bureau transcends normal political transitions and violates the established norms governing relationships between parties and the independence of their structures and leadership.
In August, the Constitutional Court had declared 14 seats in the House of Representatives vacant due to the resignation of several parliamentarians and the expulsion of another after a political affiliation change, with many of these former members choosing to participate in the upcoming elections under the PAM banner.
In response to the RNI's allegations, four PAM candidates—who previously held parliamentary or local positions under the RNI—released separate statements affirming that their party-switching was not a result of pressure or a spontaneous decision linked to the elections. Instead, they described it as a politically motivated choice based on a critical assessment of how the RNI manages its relationships with its constituents and bases.
Mohamed Chouki, the head of the RNI, stated that joining any societal project requires a long-term commitment, rather than a mere month before elections. He indicated that while reviewing political beliefs and changing party affiliation is a natural right enshrined in the constitution, discovering such realizations just a month before elections is unusual. Chouki emphasized that his party's recent statement aims to inform public opinion of its astonishment at these political practices, underscoring respect for all political parties. He asserted that competition should be based on projects and programs, rather than on power plays or last-minute candidate recruitment.
On the other hand, the PAM condemned the accusations against it, stating in a press release that it does not compel any citizen to join its ranks and considers such practices to be legally and morally reprehensible. The PAM highlighted its steadfast commitment to the principle of freedom of choice and affiliation, citing that it did not object when the RNI nominated over 17 former parliamentarians from five different political parties, including six from PAM, during the 2021 elections.
The ongoing rivalry between these two parties reveals a significant shift in the nature of electoral competition, according to Amin Saïd, a professor of constitutional law and political science at Mohammed Ben Abdallah University in Fes. He noted that the emergence of public competition between parties in the ruling coalition, especially in the run-up to the 2026 legislative elections, sets it apart from previous elections in 2011, 2016, and 2021. While earlier electoral dynamics revolved around distinct party projects and references, the current landscape is increasingly focused on candidates and their ability to maintain their electoral base.
Despite acknowledging that competition among allied parties is a natural aspect of democracy, Saïd expressed concern that when the recruitment of ready candidates becomes a central theme of the electoral battle, it overshadows discussions about public policy and shrinks the space for political voting. This could ultimately affect trust and willingness to participate in the electoral process.
Abbas Al-Wardi, a professor of public law at Mohammed V University in Rabat, suggested that the intensifying rivalry between these "rival" allies could have significant implications for the political landscape. He predicted that parties suffering major losses in previous elections would likely benefit most from this conflict, describing the current situation as "unhealthy." He noted that the issuance of a statement by a party within the ruling coalition against its ally sets a precedent that could jeopardize the stability of the political and party structure in the country. The ongoing conflict over candidates is expected to adversely affect both parties, potentially costing them dearly in the upcoming September 23 elections.
The Moroccan constitution, specifically Article 61, prohibits what is known as "political migration," or changing party affiliation during a legislative term, in response to widespread political and public demands to curb this practice that undermines the political scene's credibility. This constitutional provision imposes strict penalties for changing parties or parliamentary groups, including an immediate loss of parliamentary membership.
However, despite the strict constitutional language, the application of these rules has faced challenges, as some candidates exploit loopholes to change their party affiliation just before elections. Some resign from parliament weeks in advance, or announce their party change without resignation, leading the court to strip them of their parliamentary seat—a penalty that loses its deterrent effect when a parliamentarian cares little about losing a seat with only weeks to go, in exchange for securing a nomination with a more powerful party for the next term.
Al-Wardi argues that the phenomenon of changing party affiliation is primarily governed by ethical considerations rather than legal ones, as abandoning a party at the end of a legislative term to run for a rival party directly damages the public image of both the departed and the new party, sending negative signals to voters that could undermine efforts to broaden political participation. He advocates for the implementation of decisive legal mechanisms to address the chaos surrounding nominations and to integrate ethical dimensions into binding legal frameworks, avoiding unacceptable practices where parties exploit internal processes to select a particular candidate only to abandon them for alternative electoral bets at the last minute.
While Al-Wardi acknowledges that political affiliation is a constitutional right, he believes that this freedom should be framed by clear legal texts to prevent manipulation of the political scene, emphasizing the need for legal provisions that prohibit leaving a party or rescinding a nomination at the end of a legislative term, which remains dependent on the ethical responsibility of political actors.
Amin Saïd differentiates between changing party affiliation as a shift in political beliefs and transitioning based mainly on candidacy calculations. He contends that the first step toward reform should occur within the parties themselves through a review of their foundational laws and internal regulations, establishing clear and transparent rules for nominations, and adopting announced criteria for selecting candidates tied to competence, organizational presence, and commitment to the party's rules. On a legislative level, he stresses the necessity of opening discussions regarding the regulation of nominations and party transitions during the pre-election period, including examining the time gap between resigning from one party and obtaining the nomination from another, especially close to elections. This option, in his view, hinges on precise constitutional discussions that ensure proportionality while safeguarding freedom of affiliation and candidacy, targeting opportunistic electoral migration without restricting political freedom.
Nonetheless, he points out that these measures will remain limited unless the root problem is addressed, which is the weakness of parties in producing new political elites. A strong organizational party with active youth, diverse competencies, and qualified activists is more capable of producing its candidates and less reliant on recruiting personalities with ready electoral capital.
As reported by aljazeera.net.
