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Morocco PAM Wins Most Parliament Seats But Falls Short of Majority
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Morocco PAM Wins Most Parliament Seats But Falls Short of Majority

By Editorial Team•Sep 26, 2026 · 5:46 AM•3 min read
AI-generated representative image. Morocco's parliament building in Rabat, following an election in which PAM won the most seats but fell short of a majority.
Editorial Team
Editorial Team
Monarchy-aligned party takes 97 of 395 seats and faces coalition talks as voter turnout drops to 38 percent

Morocco's Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM) has won the most seats in the country's parliamentary election, securing 97 of the 395 seats in the House of Representatives, according to final results announced by the Ministry of Interior on Friday.

The monarchy-aligned party, part of the outgoing ruling coalition, fell well short of the 198 seats required for an outright majority and will need to form a coalition government, as required under the constitution, which obliges King Mohammed VI to appoint a prime minister from the largest party.

The result sets the stage for coalition negotiations that will determine Morocco's next government, which will oversee billions of dollars in investment as the country prepares to co-host the 2030 World Cup alongside Spain and Portugal.

The election also highlighted deepening public disengagement, with turnout falling sharply amid lingering frustration over jobs, healthcare and education.

Election Results and Coalition Outlook

  • PAM secured 97 seats, the largest share in the lower house.
  • The Justice and Development Party (PJD) quadrupled its seats to 54, staging a comeback after collapsing to 13 seats in 2021.
  • The National Rally of Independents (RNI), PAM's senior coalition partner, fell from 102 seats to 66.
  • The monarchist Istiqlal party came third and is expected to be PAM's main coalition partner.

The PJD has said it will remain in opposition, citing a longstanding rivalry with PAM that makes a coalition between the two unlikely. PAM is therefore expected to turn to Istiqlal and other parties to secure a governing majority.

Background and Party History

PAM was founded in 2008 by Fouad Ali El Himma, a friend of the king, and has long been viewed as a counterweight to the PJD. The PJD, a moderate Islamist party, led the government for a decade before its parliamentary representation collapsed to 13 seats in 2021.

The 2026 election followed youth-led protests last year over jobs, healthcare and education, as well as deadly mass attempts by migrants to reach Spain's North African enclave of Ceuta in July. Analysts have linked these events to widespread voter disengagement.

Turnout and Prime Ministerial Candidates

Only 38 percent of Morocco's 15.8 million registered voters cast ballots, the second-lowest turnout since King Mohammed VI ascended to the throne in 1999. The figure trails only a record-low 37 percent in 2007 and is sharply down from roughly 51 percent recorded in 2021.

Potential candidates for prime minister include PAM members Fouzi Lekjaa, head of Morocco's football federation and budget minister, and Fatima Ezzahra Mansouri, who serves as mayor of Marrakech as well as minister of national planning, urban planning, housing and urban policy. If selected, Mansouri would become Morocco's first woman to hold the post.

What Lies Ahead

With final results confirmed, attention now turns to coalition negotiations. PAM must assemble a governing majority, most likely with Istiqlal and other parties, before a prime minister is appointed.

Officials have not yet announced a timeline for the formation of the next government.

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