In the aftermath of the Moroccan parliamentary elections held on September 23, 2026, the Justice and Development Party (PJD), known for its Islamic-conservative stance, has decisively opted for a position in the opposition. This decision was communicated following an extraordinary session led by party leader Abdelilah Benkirane. The PJD has categorically ruled out any participation in a government formed by the Party of Authenticity and Modernity (PAM), which emerged as the strongest party in the elections, securing 97 seats according to the official results.

Former Prime Minister Benkirane, who held office from 2011 to 2016, cited allegations of irregularities during the election campaign as one of the primary reasons for the PJD's refusal to form a coalition. He emphasized that the party envisions its role as a "responsible and strong national opposition." The PJD made significant strides in these elections, increasing its representation from 13 seats in the 2021 elections to 54 mandates, thereby establishing itself as the fourth most powerful entity in the parliament. According to the party's statement, they regained support in both larger cities and rural constituencies.

The leadership of the PJD has expressed strong criticism regarding the low voter turnout, which the Ministry of Interior reported at merely 38 percent. Out of approximately 15 million registered voters, only about six million participated in the voting process. The PJD pointed out that this represents the lowest turnout since 2007, attributing the decline to a devaluation of political engagement, poor performance by the previous government, and frequent party switches in the lead-up to the election.

The PJD has announced its commitment to fulfill its constitutional and political responsibilities from the opposition, focusing on representing the interests of citizens. This strategic move indicates a clear delineation between the governing majority under PAM and the parliamentary opposition, paving the way for a distinctly structured government formation moving forward.

As reported by maghreb-post.de.