Morocco’s Authenticity and Modernity Party has captured the largest share of seats in the country’s parliamentary elections, securing 97 seats and putting the liberal faction in position to spearhead negotiations for a new coalition government.
Official results released by the Interior Ministry showed that while the party, widely known as PAM, finished in first place, it remained well short of the 198-seat threshold required for an absolute majority in the 395-seat House of Representatives. The election dealt a notable setback to the incumbent National Rally of Independents, which saw its legislative presence drop sharply to 66 seats. The conservative Istiqlal Party finished closely behind in third place after clinching 65 seats in the nationwide ballot.
Meanwhile, the moderate Islamist Justice and Development Party staged an unexpected resurgence, climbing to 54 seats after suffering heavy losses during the previous general election cycle. Voter turnout dropped markedly to roughly 38 percent, reflecting growing public apathy among younger Moroccans frustrated by elevated unemployment rates and the high cost of living. The incoming legislative assembly also faces pressure to oversee massive public spending and infrastructure programs tied to Morocco’s role in co-hosting the 2030 FIFA World Cup.
Under Morocco’s constitutional framework, King Mohammed VI is expected to designate a prime minister from PAM to initiate formal coalition building. Because PAM leaders previously signaled hesitation to ally with the National Rally of Independents, coalition talks are likely to center around agreements with Istiqlal and several smaller parliamentary factions.