Full Breakdown
Morocco’s 2026 Parliamentary Election: A Test of Youth Trust and Economic Promise
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event – Campaign Launch and Upcoming Vote
- The parliamentary election campaign began on September 10 with 27 parties competing for 395 seats.
- More than 15.8 million voters are registered for the September 23 vote, which will decide the composition of the lower house.
Background & Context – Constitutional Framework and Recent Turmoil
- The 2011 constitution defines Morocco as a constitutional, democratic, parliamentary and social monarchy; under Article 47 the king appoints the head of government from the party that wins the most seats.
- Recent unrest includes the 2025 Gen Z protests after maternal deaths in Agadir and a mass crossing of roughly 60,000 Moroccans into Ceuta in late July, which Reuters linked to economic hardship and misinformation.
- In his July 29 speech, King Mohammed VI called for a “spirit of confidence and optimism” and directed the interior minister to prepare the vote and open consultations with parties.
Data & Statistics – Youth Unemployment and Electoral Landscape
- IMF estimates overall unemployment at 13 % in 2025; youth unemployment (15-24) is 37.3 %, and 25.2 % of young people were NEET in Q3 2025.
- Real GDP grew 4.9 % in 2025 and is projected at 4.4 % in 2026.
- Voter-age profile: 4 % of registered voters are 18-24, while 29 % are 60 and older.
- Election lists total 1,850 with 7,288 candidates from 36 parties; women comprise 46 % of registered voters and 2,658 (36.47 %) of the candidates.
Official Statements & Responses
- King Mohammed VI instructed the interior minister to ensure thorough preparations, open consultations with parties and uphold confidence in the electoral process.
- Transparency Morocco Secretary-General Abdessamad Sedouk warned that most anti-corruption proposals remain legislative and that none of the reviewed programmes addressed the 2015-2025 National Anti-Corruption Strategy.
- The interior ministry, reporting directly to the king, has assumed a supervisory role over the electoral process; activist Hassan described this shift as “adding insult to injury.”
Criticism & Opposition
- PAM rejected allegations of forced party switches, saying they were voluntary.
- Jihane, political coordinator at a youth centre, noted that many young voters remain unsure whether their vote will have impact, describing a “cautious optimism” tempered by fears of corruption.
On-the-Ground Reports
- Approximately 60,000 Moroccans entered Ceuta in late July, a surge linked to economic hardship and misinformation (Reuters).
- The 2025 Gen Z protests, organized on Discord after the Agadir hospital deaths, demanded better education and health services; the response included at least three deaths, 2,400 arrests and the imprisonment of around 600 participants.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Transparency Morocco received replies from only four parties (USFP, PPS, Federation of the Democratic Left, Unified Socialist Party) as of September 15, while eight major parties—including the RNI, PAM, Istiqlal and PJD—did not respond.
- An Afrobarometer survey (March) reported that roughly one-third of Moroccans aged 18-35 trust Parliament, the head of government and political parties; comparable data for older age groups are absent.
What’s Next – Upcoming Electoral Milestones
- The September 23 vote will determine the House of Representatives; the king will appoint the head of government from the party winning the most seats, as required by Article 47.
- After the election, the appointed head of government must forge a coalition to secure a parliamentary majority, testing parties’ ability to turn campaign promises into governing agendas.