Morocco’s elections: Fragmentation, disengagement and PJD’s major return

Morocco’s parliamentary elections have reshaped the balance between the country’s main parties amid sharply lower turnout.According to provisional results, the Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM) emerged from Wednesday’s voting as the largest party with 97 seats, up from 87 in 2021.The National Rally of Independents (RNI), which led the government after the last election, fell from 102 seats to 66.The Istiqlal Party dropped from 81 to 65 seats while the Justice and Development Party (PJD) staged a striking comeback, rising from just 13 seats to 54.The remaining seats were distributed among several other parties.Only 38,08 percent of registered voters turned out, compared with 50,86 percent in 2021. The figure was also below the 42,27 percent recorded in 2016.Morocco has seen considerable social and political mobilisation in recent years, including protests involving younger Moroccans over employment, healthcare, education and living costs. The elections, therefore, were held against a backdrop in which political and social grievances have been expressed outside the ballot box as well as through parties and elections.A major reshuffling of the governing party balanceThe three par...