Morocco's Interior Minister, Abdelouafi Laftit, announced the preliminary results of the legislative elections held on Wednesday. The Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM) emerged as the leading party, securing 97 seats. The elections, which took place across the country, saw a total of 28 parties participating, with over 7,000 candidates vying for seats. The PAM's strong performance was followed by the National Rally of Independents (RNI) with 66 seats and the Independence Party with 65 seats.
According to Minister Laftit, the elections saw a national turnout of 38.08%, with around 6 million voters casting their ballots. This represents a decrease from the 50.86% turnout in 2021 and 42.27% in 2016. The minister attributed the lower turnout to various factors, including the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and the fact that the elections were held during a summer period. Despite this, Laftit noted that voter turnout was higher in the southern regions, with the Laayoune-Sakia El-Hamra region recording a turnout of 77%.
The elections were marked by a significant presence of women and young people, with 2659 female candidates participating, representing around 37% of the total number of candidates. Minister Laftit hailed this as a positive development, reflecting the country's commitment to promoting gender equality and youth participation in politics. The minister also noted that the elections were conducted in a generally smooth and peaceful manner, with some isolated incidents reported.
The preliminary results showed that the Justice and Development Party (PJD) secured 54 seats, followed by the Popular Movement with 29 seats and the Socialist Union of Popular Forces with 26 seats. Other parties, including the Progress and Socialism Party, the Constitutional Union, and the Democratic and Social Movement, also secured seats. Minister Laftit emphasized that the elections demonstrated the country's commitment to democracy and its ongoing efforts to strengthen its democratic institutions.
In preparation for the elections, the government took several measures to ensure the integrity and transparency of the process. These included the establishment of a central committee and regional and local commissions to monitor the elections and address any irregularities. The government also worked closely with the National Human Rights Council to ensure that the elections were conducted in accordance with international standards.
The elections were observed by a total of 3006 observers, including representatives from civil society organizations, the National Human Rights Council, and international organizations. Minister Laftit praised the observers for their role in ensuring the transparency and credibility of the elections. He also thanked the voters, candidates, and parties for their participation and engagement in the electoral process.
The final results of the elections are expected to be announced in the coming days, after which the newly elected representatives will take office. Minister Laftit congratulated the winning candidates and urged them to work tirelessly to serve the interests of their constituents. He also emphasized the importance of the elections in promoting democracy and good governance in Morocco.
Key points
- The Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM) leads in the legislative elections with 97 seats.
- The national voter turnout was 38.08%, with around 6 million voters casting their ballots.
- The elections saw a significant presence of women and young people, with 2659 female candidates participating.
