PAM wins 97 seats in Morocco's parliamentary election amid low turnout

Morocco’s monarchy‑aligned Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM) emerged as the biggest winner in the parliamentary election, securing 97 of the 395 seats, Interior Minister Abdelouafi Laftit announced on Thursday. The result puts PAM ahead of its senior coalition partner, the liberal National Rally of Independents (RNI), which took 66 seats, and ahead of the Istiqlal Party’s 65 seats. The centrist Islamist Justice and Development Party (JDP) rebounded from a poor showing in 2021 to win 54 seats. Turnout fell sharply to 38.02 percent, down from 50 percent in the previous vote.

The election follows a year of unrest sparked by Gen Z‑led protests that demanded economic reforms and better jobs. Under the 2011 constitution, King Mohammed VI will appoint the prime minister from the party that wins the most seats, positioning PAM to lead the next government. No party is expected to command an outright majority, so a coalition will be required. While portfolios will be divided among coalition partners, the palace traditionally retains control of defence and foreign affairs, limiting the new government’s reach.

PAM ran on a $37 billion platform that promises one million new jobs, higher wages and expanded health and social protection. Party leaders have ruled out a repeat partnership with the RNI, citing past policy failures. Potential prime‑minister candidates include Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri, who could become the Arab world’s second female head of government, and budget minister Fouzi Lekjaa, who joined PAM weeks before the vote and also heads the football federation. The new administration will inherit billions of dollars in investment as Morocco prepares to co‑host the 2030 World Cup, while facing public pressure to tackle everyday concerns such as unemployment, wages and the cost of living.

The next weeks will see intense negotiations as PAM seeks allies to form a stable coalition. King Mohammed VI is expected to meet party leaders before naming a prime minister, a decision that will shape Morocco’s economic agenda and its regional political profile. If El Mansouri is appointed, her leadership could signal a shift toward greater gender representation in Arab politics. The coalition’s composition will also determine how much influence the palace retains over key ministries, a factor that will affect the country’s ability to deliver on its ambitious investment and social promises.