Morocco's legislative elections, which took place on September 23, 2026, were marred by allegations of electoral irregularities in Tangier. The Left Alliance in the city described the vote as the worst it has seen, citing instances of "ballot stuffing" and the "direct theft of the nation's will" at two polling stations. The alliance accused authorities of a "systematic blockade" of party observers and targeting journalists to prevent them from documenting the alleged corruption.
The Left Alliance alleged that operatives were involved in rigging the election at stations No. 84 and No. 87 at the Al Qods school. They claimed that authorities' actions amounted to a "systematic rigging operation" that stripped the entire process of legitimacy. The alliance assigned "full political and administrative responsibility" to the wali of the Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima region, the governor of Tangier-Assilah prefecture, and the head of the internal affairs department.
In response to the allegations, the Left Alliance declared an "immediate and complete boycott" of all ongoing monitoring and refused to grant legitimacy to the counting of results. They demanded that the process be dropped and "restarted from zero" under strict conditions guaranteeing the administration's neutrality. The alliance also vowed to track the investigation announced by the King's prosecutor general at the Tangier Court of Appeal.
The Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM) rejected the accusations attributed to the Left Alliance, describing a "fabricated campaign" and a "political plot" by rivals unsettled by its rising support. The dispute centers on Bureau 84, where authorities arrested a man suspected of holding illegal ballots after observers protested and the station closed. A video circulating online showed a transparent box with white envelopes, with fraud claims tied to PAM supporters.
Two prosecutors opened investigations, and police questioned Tangier mayor Mounir Limouri, the PAM campaign director, and list leader Abdellatif Ghalbzouri. The Left Alliance called on activists, democratic bodies, and journalists to gather at the Unified Socialist Party (PSU)'s headquarters and join a protest sit-in at 7 p.m. in front of the regional wilaya. The group denounced the intimidation of observers and reporters as a "blatant attempt" to cover up the electoral crime.
The clashes closed a nationwide vote for the 395-seat House of Representatives, the 12th since independence. About 15.8 million voters were registered, and 28 formations competed in the elections. Provisional results are expected to be announced on Thursday, followed by coalition talks to form the next government.
The elections saw a turnout of 38%, below the 2021 level. The preliminary results show the PJD in first place, according to Hamieddine. The outcome of the elections and the legitimacy of the process will be closely watched, both domestically and internationally.
Key points
- The Left Alliance in Tangier alleges electoral corruption and demands a new vote.
- The Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM) rejects the accusations, describing them as a "fabricated campaign".
- Provisional results of the legislative elections are expected to be announced on Thursday.
