PAM wins Morocco's parliamentary election with 97 seats
Liberal-centrist party positioned as counterweight to Islamists will lead coalition talks to form next government.
What to know
- PAM won 97 of 395 parliamentary seats, making it the plurality winner that will lead coalition negotiations to form the next government.
- The king will appoint the new prime minister from PAM's ranks; possible candidates include party leader Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri (who would be Morocco's first female PM) or Fouzi Lekjaa, the soccer federation chief.
- PAM has ruled out re-partnering with the outgoing RNI-led coalition, marking a political realignment after the RNI faced criticism over cost of living, unemployment, and corruption allegations.
- Turnout fell sharply to 38% from 50% in 2021, reflecting declining voter engagement, while the moderate Islamist PJD surged from 13 to 54 seats.
“Liberal-centrist PAM took 97 seats in the 395-seat parliament, ahead of the RNI with 66, while the Istiqlal Party secured 65 seats.”
Interior Minister Abdelouafi Laftit, Interior Minister of Morocco · Straits Times ↗ · Sep 23
Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM) Plurality winner in parliamentary electionKing Mohammed VI Moroccan monarchFatima Ezzahra El Mansouri PAM party leader, potential prime ministerFouzi Lekjaa Budget minister, soccer federation presidentJustice and Development Party (PJD) Moderate Islamist party
How it unfolded 1 development · click the chart to see its coverage articles
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Morocco holds parliamentary election — Moroccans voted on Wednesday for a new parliament amid youth frustration over unemployment, cost of living, and housing shortages. The vote followed deadly youth-led protests the prior year and a mass migrant crossing attempt at the Spanish enclave of Ceuta.
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PAM to negotiate coalition; rules out RNI partnership — PAM leaders have ruled out partnering again with the RNI, the outgoing coalition partner, as the two parties trade accusations over failed policies. PAM will need coalition partners to form a government, having won only 97 of 395 seats. Istiqlal with 65 seats is a likely partner, as both were members of the outgoing parliamentary majority.
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King Mohammed VI to appoint prime minister from largest party — Under Morocco's 2011 constitution, the king appoints the prime minister from the party that won the most seats. King Mohammed VI will choose PAM's leader to form the next coalition government. If he appoints PAM's current leader Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri, she would become the second woman prime minister in the Arab region after Tunisia's Najla Bouden. Another possibility is Fouzi Lekjaa, budget minister and soccer federation president.
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Interior Ministry announces PAM wins plurality with 97 seats
Official preliminary results released Thursday showed the Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM) taking 97 of 395 parliamentary seats, ahead of the RNI with 66 and Istiqlal Party with 65. The Islamist Justice and Development Party surged to 54 seats, up from 13 in 2021. Turnout fell to 38.02%, down from 50% in 2021.
“The Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM) won the largest number of seats in Morocco's legislative election, followed by its partners in the outgoing government, RNI, and the Istiqlal party.”
— Interior Minister Abdelouafi Laftit -
first by Philadelphia Inquirer, 4h ago · also Al Jazeera, Yahoo! Finance Canada, Toronto Star
1 more headline
- Monarchy-aligned PAM leads in Morocco election provisional results Al Jazeera · 2h ago
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first by Straits Times, 5h ago · also Al-Monitor
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