Moroccan voters began going to the polls on Wednesday, September 23, 2026, to elect the 395 members of the House of Representatives in a closely watched contest marked by intense rivalry among the three parties that have formed the governing coalition since 2021.
More than 15.8 million registered voters are eligible to cast ballots in what will be the fourth regular legislative elections held under the 2011 Constitution.
Under that charter, King Mohammed VI designates the prime minister from the party that secures the largest number of seats in parliament, making the race for first place particularly consequential.
The outgoing government is led by the National Rally of Independents (RNI) of Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch, in coalition with the Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM) and the Istiqlal Party.
These three partners, which together dominated the 2021 results (RNI 102 seats, PAM 87, Istiqlal 81), have spent the campaign period locked in open competition rather than presenting a united front.
A major highlight of the race has been the high-profile entry of Fouzi Lekjaa into partisan politics.
The popular Minister Delegate for the Budget and president of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation formally joined the PAM in July 2026 and quickly became one of the most visible figures of the campaign.
Although not himself a candidate in all accounts, Lekjaa has drawn large crowds, helped shape the party’s program, and fueled speculation about a possible future role at the highest level of government if PAM emerges as the leading force.
Relations between the coalition partners have grown increasingly tense. The RNI and PAM have publicly traded accusations of poaching elected officials and candidates ahead of the vote.
The RNI charged PAM with exerting pressure to recruit several of its parliamentarians and local leaders, while PAM rejected the claims as distortions and pointed to past practices by the RNI itself in previous elections.
The exchanges have underscored the breakdown of earlier informal understandings against mutual recruitment within the majority.
Meanwhile, opposition parties are seeking to reinforce their positions. The Justice and Development Party (PJD), which suffered a dramatic collapse from 125 seats in 2016 to just 13 in 2021, is campaigning to recover ground.
Other formations, including leftist PPS and USFP as well as smaller parties, are also aiming to expand their parliamentary presence amid public concerns over living costs, youth unemployment, and public services.
Twenty-seven political parties (or 28 formations according to some tallies) and a small number of independent lists are competing across local and regional constituencies.
The official campaign, which ran from September 10 to midnight on September 22, featured intensive mobilization in markets, neighborhoods, and online platforms.
Provisional results are expected to begin emerging from September 24. The composition of the new House of Representatives will determine not only the next parliamentary majority but also the identity of the prime minister chosen by the King, setting the course for Morocco’s government over the coming five years.
