Full Breakdown
Morocco’s Justice and Development Party: Rebuilding After a Historic Defeat
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Electoral Collapse and Return of Abdelilah Benkirane
The Justice and Development Party (PJD) fell from 125 seats in the 2016 parliamentary election to just 13 seats in the September 2021 vote, losing 112 seats. After the loss, former prime minister Abdelilah Benkirane resumed party leadership, positioning his personal brand as a potential rallying point for a comeback. The party’s earlier dominance began with its 107-seat win in the November 2011 election, which followed nationwide protests demanding reform. Under the 2011 constitution, the king appoints the head of government from the party that leads the House of Representatives while retaining strategic authority through the Council of Ministers.
2026 Programme and Policy Priorities
The PJD’s 2026 platform lists 467 measures across five thematic areas: identity and family; political and institutional reform; public services and social protection; the economy and employment; and foreign policy. The programme emphasizes transparency in public procurement, conflict-of-interest rules, and measures against illicit enrichment. It also calls for improvements in housing, food, water and energy sovereignty, and stresses practical concerns such as prices, jobs, schools, hospitals and corruption.
Internal Reorganisation and Lessons from 2021
According to party officials, the 2021 defeat prompted a critical internal review. The PJD claims it reorganised its structures, enhanced internal communication and held “extraordinary and regular congresses” to address the crisis. The party also alleges that unnamed actors undermined democratic choice through electoral corruption and disinformation, though these claims remain unverified. Youth activist Imane Traifi argued that the party must move beyond treating young voters as a temporary electorate and instead create sustained opportunities for participation.
Position on Israel and Relationship with the Monarchy
The PJD continues to oppose Morocco’s normalisation with Israel, a stance reiterated in the 2026 programme. Morocco’s diplomatic ties with Israel were formalised in December 2020 as part of a U.S.–brokered agreement that also recognised Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara. On September 16, Morocco and Israel agreed to elevate their diplomatic missions to embassy level, expand air travel and deepen economic ties. While former prime minister Saadeddine Othmani defended the decision as a state policy, the PJD maintains that “ghosts and crocodiles” – powerful hidden interests – constrained its earlier government. Benkirane repeatedly affirms support for the monarchy while urging elected institutions to play a fuller role within the existing constitutional framework.
Youth Outreach and Long-Term Strategy
Party members Yassine Elachiri and Imane Traifi stress that rebuilding trust with younger Moroccans requires a cumulative process of training, mentorship and active participation, not short-term electoral mobilisation. Al-Sabahi added that the party aims to restore the gains and dignity previously enjoyed by citizens, framing the recovery effort as a long-term project rather than a single election cycle.