What's happened
The Authenticity and Modernity Party has won the most seats in Morocco's parliamentary election, but no party has an outright majority. PAM will need to form a coalition to govern while turnout remains historically low. The king will appoint the prime minister from the largest party. Youth discontent and calls for better public services persist as the country prepares for the 2030 World Cup.
What's behind the headline?
Analysis
- PAM has surged to the top with 97 seats but faces the task of building a coalition to reach a majority in a 395-seat chamber.
- The PJD has staged a comeback to 54 seats, underscoring enduring social divide and shifting political loyalties among Morocco's youth.
- The king retains core policy control, while the new government will handle day-to-day governance and World Cup-related investments.
- Turnout at 38% signals waning trust in traditional parties and raises questions about the sustainability of coalition politics in Rabat.
- The coming weeks will reveal whether PAM can align with Istiqlal and smaller groups to govern without the RNI, which lost ground in this vote.
How we got here
Morocco recently held its parliamentary election amid discontent over unemployment and the cost of living. PAM, founded in 2008 by a royal adviser, has positioned itself as a counterweight to the Islamist PJD. The vote follows a Ceuta border crisis and Gen-Z protests demanding better health and education. Voter turnout fell to about 38%, the lowest since 2007, with six million of 15.8 million registered voters casting ballots.
Our analysis
The Times of Israel reports PAM at 97 seats; Al Jazeera notes 97 for PAM and 66 for RNI with 38% turnout. France 24 and Arab News provide turnout context and potential prime minister candidates. The New Arab highlights Gen-Z discontent while The Times of Israel emphasizes 2030 World Cup infrastructure funding.
Go deeper
- Will PAM form a stable coalition or face early pressures from youth protests?
- Who would likely become Morocco's next prime minister if PAM leads the government?
- How will the World Cup prep influence policy priorities in the next government?
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