Coalition partners clash over candidates ahead of Moroccan elections

Political tensions are intensifying in Morocco as the country prepares for parliamentary elections, with candidate nominations already underway yet the official campaign still days away.

Moroccans will vote for a new parliament on September 23, with candidate nominations having opened on August 31. By the afternoon of the first day, 702 candidate lists from 27 political parties had been submitted. The official campaign is scheduled to begin on September 10.

Voters will elect members of the House of Representatives, the lower house of parliament. The party that wins the largest number of seats will have the strongest claim to lead the formation of the next government. Under Morocco’s Constitution, the king appoints the head of government from the party that comes first in the House of Representatives election.

Morocco’s multi-party system means the winning party must negotiate with other political forces to build a coalition capable of securing parliamentary support. As a result, the size of each party’s parliamentary group is crucial, including for parties that currently govern together.

The National Rally of Independents (RNI), the Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM) and the Istiqlal Party currently form the governing coalition. While the three parties are government partners, they are also competing for votes, candidates and political influence.

Recent tensions have brought those rivalries into the open, as an article by Al Jazeera points out. A leaked audio recording attributed to House of Representatives Speaker Rachid Talbi Alami, a senior RNI figure, highlighted tensions between the RNI and PAM over Fouzi Lekjaa, a senior government official and minister delegate in charge of the budget. The recording circulated after the RNI accused PAM of attracting its elected officials and candidates.

Lekjaa is a prominent figure in Moroccan public life. He has headed the Royal Moroccan Football Federation since 2014 and is widely known for his role in Moroccan football, including the national team’s historic run to the 2022 World Cup semifinals and its quarterfinal appearance at this year’s tournament. He also serves as minister delegate in charge of the budget.

The recording prompted public responses from RNI President Mohamed Chouki and Head of Government Aziz Akhannouch. Akhannouch defended internal party discussions as part of political debate and said the focus should remain on winning the election rather than allocating government posts in advance.

According to the Doha-based outlet, the controversy has underscored the tensions at the heart of the governing coalition. RNI, PAM and Istiqlal remain partners in government, but they are simultaneously competing against one another for candidates, parliamentary seats and political influence.

Parliamentary race

The RNI, which emerged as the largest party in the 2021 parliamentary election with 102 seats, is seeking to defend its position. PAM won 87 seats and Istiqlal secured 81, with the three parties subsequently forming the governing coalition.

The governing parties can point to economic reforms, investment and the expansion of social protection as evidence of progress. Their opponents, however, are likely to argue that these measures have done little to ease economic pressure on households.

Opposition parties will seek to capitalize on dissatisfaction with the government’s record, while smaller parties will compete for seats that could give them leverage in negotiations over the next governing coalition.

Among them is the Justice and Development Party (PJD), which governed Morocco for two consecutive terms from 2011 to 2021. The party suffered a dramatic defeat in the 2021 election, falling from 125 seats to just 13, but has remained a vocal critic of the government.

PJD politicians have challenged the government over issues including alleged conflicts of interest, prices, employment and public services.

The cost of living, employment, healthcare and education have long ranked among voters’ main concerns and are expected to remain important issues ahead of the election. Although inflation has slowed from the sharp increases recorded in previous years, the cost of everyday goods remains higher than before the period of rapid price growth.

By Nazrin Sadigova