Morocco's Interior Minister, Abdelouafi Laftit, announced the preliminary results of the parliamentary elections held on September 23. The results show that the Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM) has taken the lead with 97 seats. Laftit revealed the results at a press conference held at the Ministry of Interior, where he provided an overview of the electoral process and the participation rate.
According to Laftit, the National Rally of Independents (RNI) secured second place with 66 seats, followed by the Independence Party with 65 seats, and the Justice and Development Party (PJD) with 54 seats. Other parties, including the Popular Movement, the Socialist Union of Popular Forces, and the Progress and Socialism Party, also secured seats in the new parliament. The minister highlighted that the national participation rate stood at 38.08%, with nearly six million voters casting their ballots.
Laftit noted that the turnout was higher in the southern regions, with the Laayoune-Sakia El-Hamra region recording a participation rate of 77%, followed by the Guelmim-Oued Noun region with 53.48%, and the Dakhla-Oued Ed-Dahab region with 61%. He attributed the high turnout to the citizens' attachment to their regions and their active participation in the electoral process.
The minister emphasized that the electoral process was conducted in a normal and smooth manner, with some isolated incidents that did not affect the overall process. He credited the successful conduct of the elections to the mobilization of various authorities and stakeholders, including the commitment of polling station members, the cooperation of party representatives and candidates, and the responsible behavior of voters.
Laftit highlighted that the elections were a significant milestone in Morocco's democratic and institutional development, providing an opportunity to consolidate democratic choices and strengthen the role of elected institutions. He noted that the electoral process was prepared in a series of legislative and regulatory reforms aimed at improving the quality of the electoral process, promoting transparency and integrity, and ensuring equal opportunities for all competitors.
The minister revealed that the authorities had taken measures to ensure the integrity of the electoral process, including the establishment of a central committee and regional and local commissions to monitor the process and address any irregularities. He also noted that the Ministry of Interior had collaborated with the National Human Rights Council to provide data and information to observers, enabling them to carry out their tasks effectively.
Laftit provided additional details on the electoral process, including the fact that 28 parties, including one coalition, had submitted 1,847 lists for the local and regional electoral districts, comprising 7,277 candidates. He also noted that the number of female candidates had increased, with 2,659 women running for office, representing 37% of the total number of candidates.
Key points
- The Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM) has taken the lead in Morocco's parliamentary elections with 97 seats.
- The national participation rate in the elections stood at 38.08%, with nearly six million voters casting their ballots.
- The electoral process was conducted in a normal and smooth manner, with some isolated incidents that did not affect the overall process.
