Morocco holds parliamentary election amid economic growth and cost-of-living concerns
Moroccans voted Wednesday for a new 395-seat parliament, with nearly 16 million registered to cast ballots. The next government will face pressure over jobs and living costs while preparing to co-host the 2030 World Cup.
Moroccans went to the polls on Wednesday to choose a new parliament, in a vote held against a backdrop of economic growth alongside persistent public concerns about the cost of living. Polling stations across the country were set to close at 7pm local time, with nearly 16 million registered voters eligible to elect the 395-seat House of Representatives. A total of 7,288 candidates, representing 28 parties and alliances plus two independent lists, are competing for seats.
The incoming government will be responsible for overseeing preparations for the 2030 World Cup, which Morocco will co-host with Spain and Portugal, while also being expected to tackle everyday concerns such as unemployment, low wages, and shortfalls in housing, education and healthcare. Although Morocco's economy is expanding and drawing foreign investment, and the country has become Africa's most-visited destination, growth has not been evenly distributed — 12.7% of Moroccans live in relative poverty.
No single party is expected to win an outright majority, meaning the winning party will need to form a coalition. Under the constitution, the king appoints the prime minister from the party with the strongest election result, while defence and foreign affairs remain under royal authority.
The main contenders are the three parties currently in the governing coalition: the National Rally of Independents (RNI), the Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM), and the Istiqlal Party. Both RNI and PAM have pledged to create roughly one million jobs over the next five years, with RNI also proposing a guaranteed minimum monthly wage of 5,000 dirhams (about €1,200). PAM has proposed exempting salaries under 15,000 dirhams from income tax and offering 100,000 housing options for young people. Should PAM win and its figure Fatima-Zahra Mansouri, mayor of Marrakech, be named to lead the government, she would become the first woman to hold the post. The Justice and Development Party, which previously led government for a decade before a heavy defeat in 2021, is also seeking a comeback.
Vote counting begins once polls close, with preliminary results typically announced the following day. Morocco does not conduct pre-election opinion polling, so there is no reliable forecast of the outcome.
