Moroccans are called to the polls on Wednesday to elect a new parliament that will form a government for a five-year term. The elections are dominated by issues of purchasing power, unemployment, and social inequality, amid a decline in the influence of political parties.
More than 7,000 candidates are vying for the votes of approximately 16 million eligible voters, out of a total Moroccan population of around 36 million, to elect 395 members of parliament. Voter turnout, particularly among young people, is considered a key indicator of these elections.
King Mohammed VI will appoint a prime minister from the winning party, who will then be tasked with forming a government.
The constitution, adopted in the context of the "Arab Spring" in 2011, grants broad powers to parliament and the government. However, strategic decisions remain in the hands of the king, who also provides guidance on most public policies.
Issues of purchasing power, social inequality, and youth unemployment have dominated the election campaign, while the low voter registration rates among this demographic reflect their declining trust in political parties.
Social inequality has been a major problem in Morocco for nearly a decade. The crisis resurfaced more prominently with the influx of tens of thousands of migrants across the border into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta at the end of July.
This crisis, which has claimed dozens of lives, received little attention in the election campaign, while former Prime Minister Abdelilah Benkirane described it as a "black day" and a "major scandal" during his Justice and Development Party's (opposition) campaign.
In contrast, the National Rally of Independents (RNI) defended the record of the coalition government it led, which included the Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM), the Istiqlal Party, and independent ministers, urging voters to renew their confidence in it.
-"Social State"-
In the absence of opinion polls, observers and local media place the three parties, particularly the RNI and PAM, in the lead.
Despite stepping down from the RNI leadership in February, Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch returned to lead his party's campaign, praising the resilience of the economy despite the repercussions of the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, and the "strengthening of the foundations of the social state."
At an election rally in Tetouan (north) on Sunday, he highlighted "reforms in health and education and wage increases," and promised one million jobs.
However, this wealthy businessman faces accusations of a conflict of interest between his position and his ownership of Afriquia Gaz, a major Moroccan oil and gas company.
Criticism against him reached its peak last fall when the "Generation Z212" movement, launched by anonymous online activists, demanded his resignation and called for reforms in the health and education sectors.
The demonstrations, which took place almost daily for two weeks, were marred by acts of vandalism and clashes in several cities, resulting in the deaths of three people, before their momentum waned.
After being a key partner in the government with the National Rally of Independents, the Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM) has emerged in recent months as his main rival, despite the fact that the two parties share no ideological differences and both were founded within circles close to the palace.
Both parties are relying on candidates described in Morocco as "notables," who leverage their close ties with their constituents, regardless of their parties' political rhetoric.
The Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM) has suffered from the absence of a clear leader, with three officials effectively running the party. The most prominent among them is Fatima Zahra Mansouri, the Minister of National Planning and Urban Development and Mayor of Marrakech, whom some media outlets have tipped to become the first woman to head the government.
The party's image was further damaged by the conviction of two of its former leaders in June on international drug trafficking charges, resulting in prison sentences of 10 and 12 years, respectively.
-"Conflict of Interest"-
Weeks before the elections, the party recruited a newcomer: Fouzi Lekjaa, the Minister of Budget and President of the Moroccan Football Federation. Lekjaa enjoys popularity among football fans but lacks political experience.
Lekjaa led part of his new party's campaign in several cities, criticizing the National Rally of Independents' "conflict of interest" and pledging to "increase purchasing power" and "empower youth to create added value."
The Istiqlal Party, meanwhile, campaigned without engaging in disputes with its two coalition partners, promising a "break" and a fight against "corruption and conflicts of interest." It is typically considered a strong contender.
The Justice and Development Party (PJD) is hoping for a surprise after its resounding defeat in 2021. Its leader, Abdelilah Benkirane, led daily rallies in several cities, where he launched scathing attacks on the National Rally of Independents regarding "conflicts of interest," while accusing the Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM) of seeking to "control" political life.
However, Benkirane, who headed the government between 2011 and 2016, also revived conservative rhetoric, warning against "targeting the family," "legalizing consensual sexual relations," and "equal inheritance" between men and women.
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