Morocco held a parliamentary election on Wednesday, with voters choosing representatives for a new 395-seat House of Representatives amid concerns about employment, wages, housing and public services. The result will shape the next government as the country prepares to co-host the 2030 FIFA World Cup with Spain and Portugal.
Nearly 16 million registered voters were eligible to participate. Polling stations were scheduled to close at 7pm local time, with preliminary national results expected after counting began. The election is a national vote, but it has wider European relevance because of Morocco’s close relationship with the European Union, its role in regional migration and trade, and its partnership with Spain and Portugal for the tournament.
What was at stake in Morocco’s election?
Voters were choosing members of the House of Representatives, which plays a central role in forming the national government. Morocco’s constitution requires King Mohammed VI to appoint the head of government from the party that wins the largest number of seats.
No single party was widely expected to win the 198 seats required for an outright majority. The leading party is therefore likely to negotiate with other groups before a coalition government can be formed. Cabinet appointments must also receive royal approval.
The elected government is responsible for domestic policy, including employment, education, healthcare and social services. However, the monarchy retains significant authority over strategic areas such as defence, foreign affairs and the country’s broader direction.
Jobs and the cost of living dominated the campaign
Morocco’s economy has attracted foreign investment and developed new industries, while tourism remains an important source of economic activity. Yet growth has not been evenly distributed, and many voters continue to face unemployment, low wages and high household costs.
Housing, schools and hospitals were also prominent campaign issues. The central challenge for the next government will be to convert economic expansion into better-paid work and more reliable public services, particularly for younger people.
Campaign pledges included:
- Creating large numbers of new jobs over the next parliamentary term.
- Improving wages and introducing measures aimed at supporting lower-income workers.
- Expanding access to housing for young people.
- Reducing pressure on public hospitals and improving treatment times.
- Addressing regional inequalities and the gap between major cities and other parts of the country.
Many young voters have heard similar promises in previous elections and remain cautious about whether they will lead to measurable change.
Which parties were competing?
The outgoing coalition consisted of the National Rally of Independents, the Authenticity and Modernity Party, and the Istiqlal Party. All three were competing to finish first.
National Rally of Independents
The liberal, pro-business National Rally of Independents won the previous election and led the government for five years. Former Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch stepped down as party leader in February and was not standing for a parliamentary seat. Mohamed Chouki led the party during this election.
The party campaigned on job creation and proposed a guaranteed minimum monthly wage of 5,000 dirhams, according to its manifesto.
Authenticity and Modernity Party
The Authenticity and Modernity Party, the second-largest party in the outgoing parliament, also promised to create about one million jobs. Its proposals included income-tax relief for salaries below 15,000 dirhams and the provision of housing options for young people.
Its leading figures included Fatima-Zahra Mansouri, the mayor of Marrakech and urban planning minister, and Fouzi Lekjaa, the budget minister and president of Morocco’s football federation. If the party finished first and Mansouri became head of government, she would be the first woman to hold the position.
Istiqlal and opposition parties
Istiqlal, Morocco’s oldest political party, was led by Water Minister Nizar Baraka. Its campaign included a pledge to improve access to treatment in public hospitals.
The Justice and Development Party was seeking to recover after losing most of its parliamentary representation in the previous election. Led by former Prime Minister Abdelilah Benkirane, it said it wanted to narrow economic differences between Casablanca and other regions.
Other parties included the Socialist Union of Popular Forces, the Popular Movement and the Party of Progress and Socialism, which focused on education and stronger anti-corruption measures.
How Morocco’s parliamentary voting system works
Moroccan voters receive two ballot papers and vote for party lists rather than individual candidates. The 395 seats are allocated through proportional representation.
- 305 seats are filled through local constituencies.
- 90 seats are allocated through regional lists reserved for women.
- The party with the most seats is expected to lead government-formation talks.
- A coalition is likely if no party reaches the majority threshold.
Moroccan citizens living abroad have a constitutional right to vote, but the system does not provide voting by post or ballot boxes at Moroccan consulates. Citizens abroad must travel to Morocco or authorise a registered family member or acquaintance to vote on their behalf.
Why the result matters for Europe
Morocco is a close partner of European countries, particularly Spain, Portugal and France. Its cooperation with the European Union includes trade, migration, security and diplomatic relations. Changes in Morocco’s government could therefore affect discussions involving the EU’s southern neighbourhood.
The country’s preparations for the 2030 World Cup will also require coordination with Spain and Portugal. Infrastructure, transport, tourism and public-service planning are likely to remain important areas of cross-border cooperation.
For Europe, the election is not an EU decision or a European Parliament vote. It is a Moroccan national election. Its wider significance comes from Morocco’s economic, diplomatic and security relationships with European partners.
What happens next?
Counting began after polling stations closed, with preliminary national results expected the following day. Morocco does not conduct election opinion polls, so there was no reliable public forecast of which party would finish first.
Once the leading party is identified, it will begin negotiations with possible coalition partners. The king will then appoint the head of government from that party, after which cabinet formation and royal approval will follow.
The key test for the incoming administration will be whether it can respond to concerns about jobs, wages and public services while maintaining Morocco’s investment ambitions and preparing for the 2030 World Cup.
Conclusion
Morocco’s parliamentary election placed economic opportunity and everyday living costs at the centre of national politics. The result will determine which party leads coalition negotiations, but the next government will operate within a system where the monarchy retains major strategic powers. For European observers, the outcome matters because Morocco is an important partner on migration, trade, security and preparations for the 2030 World Cup.
