Morocco's PAM wins 97 parliamentary seats as turnout falls to 38%

Election results and seat distribution

Morocco's Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM) secured first place in the legislative election held on 23 September 2026, winning 97 seats in the 395-seat House of Representatives. Provisional results released by the Interior Ministry early on Thursday showed PAM gaining 10 seats compared to 2021. The National Rally of Independents (RNI), led by outgoing Head of Government Aziz Akhannouch, dropped from 102 seats to 66. The Istiqlal Party finished third with 65 seats, down from 81. The moderate Islamist Justice and Development Party (PJD) grew its representation from 13 seats to 54 after campaigning against corruption.

PAM97

RNI66

Istiqlal65

PJD54

PAM

97 seats

RNI

66 seats

Istiqlal

65 seats

PJD

54 seats

Data from the article text

Turnout drops to two-decade low

Voter participation stood at 38.08% of registered voters, down from 50.86% in 2021 and 42.27% in 2016, marking the lowest turnout level since 2007. The registered electorate comprised 15.8 million voters, while the broader eligible population reached 26.7 million, representing a 22% overall turnout. Low engagement was pronounced among young voters facing high unemployment in the 15 to 24 age bracket. The vote followed youth-led protests over public spending, education, and healthcare that resulted in hundreds of arrests nearly a year ago, as well as an attempt by tens of thousands of migrants to cross into the Spanish territory of Ceuta in July.

201642.27%

202150.86%

202638.08%

2016

42.27 %

2021

50.86 %

2026

38.08 %

Data from the article text

Coalition talks and prime ministerial prospects

Under Article 47 of Morocco's Constitution, King Mohammed VI must appoint the head of government from the party that finishes first in parliamentary elections. With 198 seats required for a majority, PAM must build a coalition. The outgoing governing alliance of PAM, RNI, and Istiqlal holds a combined 228 seats, but campaign tensions complicate talks after mutual accusations regarding social policy. Potential candidates for the premiership include PAM leader and 50-year-old Mayor of Marrakech Fatima Ezzahra Mansouri, who served as Minister of National Territory Planning, Urban Planning, Housing and Urban Policy. A second name discussed in local reports is Minister Delegate for Budget and football federation president Fouzi Lekjaa.

Policy pledges and the World Cup roadmap

Intissar Fakir, a researcher at the Middle East Institute in the United States, evaluated Lekjaa's position amid preparations for co-hosting the 2030 World Cup.

“The next government will anyway be the World Cup government. But Lekjaa is needed where he is now, as president of the football federation.”

The incoming cabinet will direct billions of dollars in infrastructure investments while addressing cost of living pressures, employment, and public services. During the campaign, PAM pledged to achieve 5% annual economic growth compared to an expected 4.4% in 2026, keep inflation at 2%, and create at least 1 million jobs over its five-year term. PAM was founded in 2008 by Fouad Ali El Himma, a close adviser to King Mohammed VI, as a counterweight to the PJD. While the coalition will manage administrative portfolios, the monarchy retains control over strategic sectors, including defense and foreign affairs.