Morocco’s parliamentary election campaign has moved into full swing, with 27 political parties competing for 395 seats in the House of Representatives ahead of a closely watched national vote scheduled for September 23.
Official campaigning began on September 10 and will continue until midnight on September 22, giving political parties less than two weeks to persuade voters before polling opens the following day.
The election will be Morocco’s 12th parliamentary vote since independence and comes at an important moment for Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch and the governing coalition.
Akhannouch Faces Electoral Test
The campaign follows months of growing political competition and tensions among parties that have governed together.
Akhannouch’s National Rally of Independents entered government after the 2021 election, but the latest contest will provide voters with an opportunity to assess its record on economic management, employment, social protection and public services.
The political atmosphere has become increasingly competitive.
Even before official campaigning began, parties within the governing coalition were publicly exchanging accusations, while politicians switched political camps and disagreements emerged over the government’s record.
That could make the election more unpredictable than a straightforward government-versus-opposition contest.
395 Seats Up for Grabs
Voters will elect all 395 members of the House of Representatives.
The campaign is scheduled to run for 13 days, ending at midnight on September 22. Morocco’s audiovisual regulator has also established rules governing political airtime and campaign coverage across public broadcasting services.
The government has pledged that the election will be conducted transparently.
Beyond individual parties, the vote will help determine the composition of Morocco’s next government and the political direction of the country during an unusually important period.
World Cup Politics Enters Campaign
Football has unexpectedly entered the political debate.
Moroccan football federation president Fouzi Lekjaa recently declared at a political gathering that Benslimane would host the 2030 FIFA World Cup final.
Prime Minister Akhannouch publicly criticised the claim, stressing that FIFA has not yet awarded the final and arguing that Morocco must respect coordination with co-hosts Spain and Portugal. Reuters reported that Akhannouch also accused Lekjaa of turning the issue into an electoral manoeuvre.
The dispute demonstrates how preparations for the 2030 World Cup are becoming intertwined with domestic politics.
Morocco is spending heavily on stadiums, transport and other infrastructure ahead of the tournament.
Politicians will consequently face questions not only about the prestige associated with hosting the World Cup but also about spending priorities and the wider economic benefits promised to citizens.
With polling less than two weeks away, Morocco has entered a period in which economic policy, social programmes and even football infrastructure could influence the political battle for control of parliament.
