Political Maneuvering in Moroccan Elections
In a surprising turn of events, the Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM) has withdrawn its endorsement from its candidate, Younes Ouchane, in the Driouch constituency, and instead granted it to Aziz Meknif, a former member of the House of Councillors. This unexpected shift has raised eyebrows, particularly as Meknif had previously resigned from his position in the House after receiving assurances that he would be endorsed by the party for the upcoming legislative elections scheduled on September 23. The decision to withdraw Ouchane's endorsement has sparked considerable discontent, as he represented PAM during the last legislative term and had hoped to convince the party to reconsider its decision. However, his attempts were ultimately in vain.
In September 2022, Younes Ouchane initially won a parliamentary seat during the first partial elections as a representative of the Socialist Union of Popular Forces (USFP). However, the Constitutional Court later annulled the results of those elections, which led to the loss of his seat. On June 13, 2023, Ouchane ran for the second partial elections under the PAM banner and achieved a significant victory, allowing him to reclaim his position in the House of Representatives for the Driouch region. Ouchane expressed confusion over the withdrawal of his endorsement but has yet to leave the party or transition to another political faction.
In a related development, the Constitutional Union party has similarly revoked its endorsement of Mohamed Belhiyani in the northern Fes electoral district. Instead, the party has opted to endorse Idriss Ablahed, a unionist and regional secretary of the General Union of Workers in Fes. Belhiyani initially received a confirmation of his candidacy on August 8, 2026, but was later replaced by another candidate, prompting him to seek clarification from the party’s secretary-general regarding the reasons behind this sudden change.
As reported by le12.ma.
