Mayor Mounir Limouri Detained Over Electoral Fraud Allegations
The mayor of the Moroccan city of Tanger, Mounir Limouri, has been arrested amid a probe into alleged electoral fraud linked to the recent legislative elections held on September 23, 2026. This development follows the detention of five other individuals, as reported by judicial sources. Limouri is a member of the Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM), which emerged victorious in the elections, despite witnessing the highest voter abstention rate in two decades across Morocco.
Concerns Over Voting Irregularities
On election day, police apprehended a suspect at a polling station in the Casa Barata neighborhood of Tanger, accused of attempting to manipulate votes in favor of PAM. Observers raised alarms upon finding a ballot box filled with neatly arranged votes—an occurrence deemed highly improbable under normal voting conditions, suggesting prior tampering. Subsequently, another arrest was made at the same polling station, where an individual was caught with a bag containing hundreds of pre-marked ballots supporting PAM. In total, six individuals have been arrested, including Limouri, the heads of two electoral tables at the implicated polling station, their deputies, and one additional person.
Limouri was apprehended at Ibn Battouta Airport in Tanger after arriving from Spain. His trip coincided with news reports indicating that Moroccan authorities had issued a warrant for his arrest. He claimed his visit to Spain was for business and leisure, while asserting his intention to return to face the authorities. The Moroccan Interior Ministry has stated that a central inspection committee will investigate the alleged irregularities and appropriate administrative measures will be taken to ascertain legal accountability.
The legislative elections in Morocco were conducted without significant incidents but were marked by a staggering abstention rate of 61.9%, the highest in 20 years. Parties forming the government coalition achieved notable success, with PAM, under the leadership of Fouzi Lekjaa, the current Minister Delegate for Budget and President of the Moroccan Football Federation, securing 97 seats. The National Rally of Independents (RNI) followed with 66 seats. The Parliament, known as the House of Representatives, comprises a total of 395 seats. The Moroccan king, Mohammed VI, is tasked with selecting a member of the majority party to assume the role of prime minister, although no legal timeframe is set for this decision.
As reported by rtve.es.
