OMM Redaksiyası
Morocco will hold a parliamentary election on Wednesday, with 15.8 million registered voters eligible to choose members of the country’s 395-seat House of Representatives, according to the original report.
The election will shape the next government, although King Mohammed VI retains significant powers over the country’s key political and strategic decisions. It will be the sixth legislative election since the king ascended to the throne in 1999 and the fourth since constitutional reforms adopted after the 2011 Arab Spring expanded the roles of parliament and the prime minister.
How the election works
Twenty-eight political parties are competing for 395 seats. Official data shows that 7,288 candidacies have been registered nationwide, averaging more than 18 candidates for each seat.
Morocco’s electoral system includes 305 seats elected through local constituencies and 90 seats chosen through regional constituencies. The Authenticity and Modernity Party, Istiqlal Party, Party of Progress and Socialism, and Justice and Development Party each submitted 92 local lists covering all local constituencies, with 305 candidates each. The National Rally of Independents also submitted 92 local lists with 305 candidates, while other parties fielded fewer lists.
Which parties are competing?
The main parliamentary forces are divided between parties in the governing coalition and those in opposition.
The coalition comprises the National Rally of Independents, the Authenticity and Modernity Party, and the Istiqlal Party. The National Rally of Independents, which was the largest party in the 2021 election, is seeking to retain its position. The Authenticity and Modernity Party aims to become the largest party and lead the government for the first time, while Istiqlal is seeking to expand its influence after joining the coalition in 2021.
The main opposition parties include the Socialist Union of Popular Forces, the Party of Progress and Socialism, the Popular Movement, and the Justice and Development Party. They are seeking to increase their representation in parliament.
Under Morocco’s constitutional system, the party that wins the largest number of seats will be asked to form the government.
Who is boycotting the vote?
The Justice and Charity Association, Morocco’s largest religious movement, and the Democratic Labour Way Party, a left-wing group, are boycotting the election.
Both groups have criticized the political environment and said conditions do not permit what they consider free and fair political competition.
How can Moroccans abroad vote?
The Interior Ministry has launched an online platform for Moroccans living abroad who are registered on the electoral rolls to arrange voting by proxy.
Under Moroccan law, eligible voters abroad may appoint a voter registered in Morocco to cast a ballot on their behalf. The electronic platform allows them to complete the proxy procedure before election day.
Who is monitoring the election?
Morocco’s Central Election Monitoring Commission, supported by regional and provincial committees, is overseeing the electoral process.
A total of 3,006 accredited observers, including representatives of 20 international and regional organizations, will monitor the legislative elections on Sept. 23. Independent and impartial election observation has been regulated by law since 2011.
Observers monitor the process independently and cannot intervene in electoral operations, while state monitoring committees can take action in response to violations.
