Political Resignations Fuel Party Hopping in Morocco Before Elections
In recent weeks, the Constitutional Court has addressed various correspondences submitted by the Speaker of the House of Representatives regarding the resignations of several members of parliament. This development comes as preparations intensify for the upcoming legislative elections scheduled for September 23rd. The court declared that the seats formerly held by these members are now vacant due to their resignations, allowing them to participate in the forthcoming elections under new party banners. This move has raised concerns about the phenomenon of "political hopping" in Morocco, which has become a recurring theme ahead of every electoral cycle.
Among those who have resigned is Idriss Santissi, who stepped down from his position in the House of Representatives and left the Popular Movement party, where he served as the leader of its parliamentary group during the eleventh legislative session. Santissi has since joined the Istiqlal Party, which is part of the current government coalition, and has received endorsement to run in the upcoming elections for the Salé city constituency, a district he has traditionally contested.
Similarly, Zineb Simou has resigned from her council membership and departed from the National Rally of Independents party, gaining endorsement from the Authenticity and Modernity Party to represent it in the Larache electoral district. Another notable figure, Abdel Haq Chafik, continues his trend of party switching, having left the Popular Movement to join the Authenticity and Modernity Party, which has endorsed him for the Ain Chock district in Casablanca.
In a related context, Mubarak Hamia also resigned from his position in the House of Representatives, leaving the National Rally of Independents party, which had previously endorsed him for the Wadi Gold district elections. Recently, he has joined the Istiqlal Party, and he is expected to represent it in the upcoming elections while awaiting the party's announcement of its candidates for the "desert districts."
Amr Oujil has similarly resigned from the House and left the National Rally of Independents party, following the path of several other members who have done the same. He has received endorsement from the Progress and Socialism Party to contest the elections in the Errachidia district. Furthermore, the Constitutional Court has acknowledged the vacancy of the parliamentary seat held by Ahmed Al-Dahi of the Authenticity and Modernity Party, who will now run under the Progress and Socialism Party banner in the Benslimane district, a seat he previously won during the partial elections in June 2024.
Another resignation came from Khalid Al-Ajli, who left his position in the lower house and departed from the National Rally of Independents. He is set to represent the Popular Movement in the upcoming elections for the southern Fez district. The Popular Movement has also successfully attracted Rime Chabat, a former parliamentarian from the Democratic Forces Party, who is slated to run under its banner in the northern Fez district, according to informed sources.
As reported by hespress.com.
