Moroccans vote in election set to shape government before World Cup

Moroccans cast their ballots on Wednesday in a parliamentary election that will set the course for the administration overseeing the final phases of a $20 billion initiative to prepare for the 2030 World Cup and initiatives to funnel economic gains to the country's disaffected youth. The electoral process is unlikely to significantly alter the existing power dynamics in Morocco, where the monarch maintains extensive control over policy-making, defense, and foreign affairs.

However, the upcoming parliament will be responsible for rolling out initiatives aimed at tackling youth dissatisfaction, which has been exacerbated by events such as a massive exodus across the border to Ceuta and youth-led protests the previous year.

The incumbent coalition comprises three parties, including two founded by individuals close to the monarchy. This coalition ousted a more moderate Islamist party that had governed the nation a decade prior following the 2011 Arab Spring protests. The king appointed the prime minister from the party that secured the greatest number of seats in the 395-member parliament. The prime minister then negotiated a coalition before presenting a cabinet list for the monarch's approval.

Voting commenced at 8 a.m. (0800 GMT) and concluded at 7 p.m. (1900 GMT). The electoral participation, especially among the young demographic, will be closely monitored as an indicator of citizens' engagement and confidence in elected institutions. As of now, approximately 27 million Moroccans are eligible to vote, but only 15.8 million are registered, marking a decline of around 12% from the 2021 election.

The leading parties in the parliament, the National Rally of Independents (RNI) and the Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM), have pledged to generate approximately 1 million jobs each over the next five years and have promised improvements in housing, wages, and healthcare. Despite their shared leadership, the two parties have differed on issues such as the decline in food prices and other policy shortcomings.

Consequently, members of the PAM have ruled out forming another coalition with RNI if they emerge victorious.

Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch, a wealthy businessman who has headed the government since 2021, will not contest the election after relinquishing his position as RNI leader. Fouzi Lekjaa, the budget minister and head of Morocco’s football federation, along with being the chairman of the organizing committee for the 2030 World Cup, joined PAM's leadership in the weeks leading up to the election.

Morocco is investing heavily in stadiums, railways, and other infrastructure ahead of the World Cup, set to be co-hosted with Spain and Portugal. The International Monetary Fund estimates these expenditures at around 190 billion dirhams, equivalent to approximately $20 billion, which represents nearly 12% of the country's GDP in 2024.

Other contenders include the Istiqlal party, a nationalist and conservative-leaning party, the Islamist Justice and Development Party (PJD), which suffered a significant defeat in the previous election, and several leftist parties.