Commencement of Candidacy Submissions for the 2026 Legislative Elections
The process for submitting candidacies for the legislative elections scheduled for September 23, 2026, officially began on Monday, August 31, and will continue until September 8 across all electoral constituencies in the Kingdom of Morocco. In Rabat, _Le360_ has been following the application procedures of two candidates vying for positions in the Rabat-Chellah and Rabat-Ocean constituencies.
For this electoral event, the submission process initiates electronically through a dedicated platform for candidacy applications. After the electronic receipt is issued, candidates are summoned to the local offices of the Ministry of the Interior to finalize their applications and confirm their candidacies.
In the Rabat-Salé-Kénitra region, _Le360_ observed the candidacy submission of Adib Benbrahim, the leading candidate for the Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM) in the Rabat-Chellah constituency, which includes areas such as Takaddoum, Douar El Hajja, Youssoufia, and Mabella. Benbrahim's nomination under the PAM banner was formally established by the party in July.
As the incumbent deputy, Adib Benbrahim expressed that the submission process has proceeded “smoothly, both electronically and during the physical filing of the application.” He conveyed his readiness to face competition from other candidates and expressed confidence regarding the election outcome.
Intense Competition in Rabat-Ocean Constituency
In the highly contested Rabat-Ocean constituency, Abdelkrim Benatiq will lead the list for the Socialist Union of Popular Forces (USFP). The former minister is set to compete against notable opponents, including Mohamed Mehdi Bensaïd, the outgoing Minister of Youth, Culture, and Communication and PAM candidate, as well as Mustapha El Khalfi, a former minister and candidate for the Justice and Development Party (PJD).
Abdelkrim Benatiq praised the system established by the Ministry of the Interior for registering candidacies, calling it “an impeccable system that functioned without any anomalies.” He indicated his intent to intensify preparations to ensure he is ready for this crucial electoral event. Benatiq also urged citizens to participate en masse in the elections, highlighting the historical ties between Rabat and the USFP, which has several founding figures originating from the capital.
The competition in Rabat-Ocean is anticipated to be particularly fierce, often referred to as the “constituency of death” due to the caliber of political figures contesting its four seats and the intense rivalry involved. In the previous legislative elections held on September 8, 2021, this constituency was notably detrimental to two party leaders: Saâd-Eddine El Othmani, then Prime Minister and Secretary-General of the PJD, and Nabil Benabdallah, Secretary-General of the Party of Progress and Socialism (PPS). El Othmani finished fifth with 4,028 votes, while Benabdallah ranked eighth with 2,210 votes.
Mohamed Mehdi Bensaïd secured one of the four available seats in the last election representing PAM. Now, five years later, he is again seeking election in the same constituency. The outgoing Minister of Youth, Culture, and Communication submitted his candidacy on the morning of August 31 at the wilaya of Rabat-Salé-Kénitra.
Rabat-Ocean is shaping up to be one of the focal points in the electoral battle within the capital, with four seats up for grabs in the House of Representatives.
As reported by fr.le360.ma.
