In a significant political shift in Morocco, the Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM), a liberal political entity, has declared victory in the recent legislative elections, overshadowed by an unprecedented abstention rate of 61.98%. This figure marks the highest abstention recorded in the last two decades, as confirmed by the Moroccan Ministry of the Interior. Nearly nine hours post the closure of polling stations, Interior Minister Abdeluafi Laftit announced that PAM secured 97 out of 395 parliamentary seats, indicating a decisive lead over its coalition partners.
Following the election results, PAM has surpassed its coalition allies, namely the National Rally of Independents (RNI), which dropped from leading the government to securing the second-most seats with 66, and the Istiqlal Party, which retained its third position with 65 seats. The outcomes revealed by the Interior Minister were in line with analysts' forecasts, which anticipated PAM's lead followed closely by its coalition partners.
The PAM was established in 2008, co-founded by Fouad Ali El Himma, a close associate of King Mohammed VI and a royal advisor. With the recent elections, PAM is now under the leadership of Fouzi Lekjaa, the Minister of Budget, who also serves as the president of the Moroccan Football Federation. Lekjaa is expected to play a pivotal role in the upcoming legislative term, particularly with Morocco co-hosting the 2030 World Cup alongside Spain and Portugal.
Election Day Highlights
One of the day's surprises came from the Justice and Development Party (PJD), a moderate Islamist party, which managed to secure 54 seats, a remarkable recovery from its previous electoral collapse that saw its representation plummet from 125 to just 13 seats five years ago. This defeat marks the end of a decade-long dominance by the PJD, which rose to power following the protests of 2011 and further consolidated its position in the 2016 elections. The left-wing parties, despite their minority status in Moroccan politics, also celebrated gains by securing eight legislative seats, reflecting a slow but steady progression in their political influence.
The distribution of the seats follows a calculation system based not on valid votes but rather on the number of registered voters in each constituency, a method that often leads to fragmentation and inhibits the formation of absolute majorities. Analysts suggest that it is highly probable the current government coalition, consisting of PAM, RNI, and Istiqlal, will continue, albeit with a stronger presence from the liberal faction.
Record Abstention Rates
The anticipated overwhelming abstention rate was a clear testament to the growing disconnect between the Moroccan political class and the electorate. The participation rate for this election was merely 38.08%, the lowest since 2007, with approximately six million voters casting their ballots out of 15.8 million registered citizens, a prerequisite for voting in the country. Contrary to the general trend, Minister Laftit noted a significant voter turnout in Western Sahara, with figures reported at 77% in Laayoune and 61% in Dakhla.
This high level of abstention has been a recurring theme in Moroccan elections over the past 25 years. In the last election held in 2021, the abstention rate was 49.6%, which, though still high, represented the highest participation in two decades, slightly exceeding the 50% mark. Historically, the greatest abstention rate since King Mohammed VI ascended to the throne was recorded in 2007 at 63%, followed by 57% in 2016.
The election day progressed smoothly, with only isolated incidents reported that did not impact the overall electoral process, as stated by the minister, who refrained from discussing allegations of ballot tampering in polling stations in Tangier. Approximately 3,000 observers, including 200 international monitors, were present to oversee the electoral proceedings.
Following the announcement of the official results, King Mohammed VI is set to appoint the new Prime Minister, who will be a member of the PAM, the leading party in this election. Analysts predict that Lekjaa is the frontrunner for this position, although the party operates under a collegial leadership structure that includes current ministers such as Fatima Ezzara El Mansouri of Housing and Mehdi Bensaid of Youth and Culture.
As reported by efe.com.
