Morocco’s Election Campaign Is Under Way. 27 Parties Have 13 Days To Win 395 Seats

Morocco has opened the official campaign for its September 23 parliamentary election, with 27 political parties competing for all 395 seats in the House of Representatives. Nearly 15.8 million voters are registered, and the result will determine which party is best placed to lead the next government under Morocco’s constitutional monarchy.

Morocco has entered the final stretch before one of North Africa’s most closely watched elections of the year.

The official campaign for the September 23 parliamentary vote began on September 10 and will run until midnight on September 22. Twenty-seven political parties are contesting 395 seats in the House of Representatives, Morocco’s lower chamber of parliament.

Official figures show that 15,801,162 voters are registered. The Interior Ministry says 1,850 candidate lists have been filed, representing 7,288 candidacies nationwide.

A TEST FOR THE GOVERNING COALITION

The election will test the standing of the three parties that have governed Morocco since 2021: the National Rally of Independents, the Authenticity and Modernity Party and the Istiqlal Party.

In the 2021 election, the National Rally of Independents emerged as the largest party with 102 seats, followed by the Authenticity and Modernity Party with 86 and Istiqlal with 81. The three later formed the coalition government led by Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch.

Opposition parties, including the Justice and Development Party, the Socialist Union of Popular Forces, the Popular Movement and the Party of Progress and Socialism, are seeking to break that balance.

Under Morocco’s constitutional system, the king appoints the prime minister from the political party that wins the largest number of seats. The prime minister then forms a government, while the monarchy retains substantial authority over major areas of national policy.

THE ECONOMY IS AT THE CENTRE OF THE CAMPAIGN

The campaign is unfolding against public concern over jobs, household costs and the pace of economic reform.

Parties have rolled out social and economic pledges across rallies and social media, but some Moroccan media and political analysts have questioned whether the most ambitious promises are matched by clear financing plans.

That gives the election a practical edge. Voters are not only choosing between parties, but also judging whether the next government can turn campaign promises into policies that address employment, purchasing power and public services.

YOUNG VOTERS ARE A WEAK POINT

One of the most striking figures in the election is the relatively small share of young people on the voter register. Reporting by Africanews and AFP says only about 3% of registered voters are between 18 and 24.

That matters in a country where young people form a large part of the population and where unemployment and political disengagement remain important public issues.

Parties are increasingly using social media to reach younger Moroccans, but low registration among first-time and younger voters raises a broader question about how much the election reflects the political priorities of the country’s youth.

TIGHTER RULES AND THOUSANDS OF OBSERVERS

Moroccan authorities say more than 3,000 election observers have been mobilised, including representatives from domestic civil society groups, national human-rights institutions and international organisations.

Campaigning is governed by rules covering advertising, public meetings, social-media activity and the use of artificial intelligence. The government says the measures are intended to protect the integrity and transparency of the vote.

The campaign ends at midnight on September 22. Moroccans vote the following day, with provisional results expected from September 24.

WHAT THE RESULT WILL DECIDE

The vote will determine the composition of the House of Representatives for the next five years and establish which party has the strongest claim to lead the next government.

The more important test, however, may come after the votes are counted: whether the winning parties can convert an election fought on jobs, living costs and public confidence into a government capable of delivering measurable results.