Authenticity and Modernity Party wins Morocco vote, Islamists return to opposition

Morocco's Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM) secured a landslide victory in the parliamentary election, winning 97 out of 395 seats, according to provisional results. The party, which pushed the Islamist Justice and Development Party (PJD) out of power five years ago, now leads the opposition. PAM's leader, Abdelilah Benkirane, previously served as prime minister from 2011 to 2017.

Turnout for the election dropped to 38%, down from 50% in the previous election. King Mohammed VI retains control over foreign and defense policy, while domestic issues such as jobs, education, healthcare, and prices are handled by the government and parliament. PAM's origins can be traced back to 2008, following the efforts of King Mohammed VI's advisor, Fouad Ali El Himma.

The party's two coalition partners, the National Rally of Independents (RNI) and Istiqlal, both saw significant declines in their seat counts. The RNI fell from 102 to 66 seats, while Istiqlal dropped from 81 to 65. The PJD, a conservative Islamic party that governed Morocco after the 2011 Arab Spring protests, saw its seat count drop from 81 to 54.

The Popular Movement, Socialist Union of Popular Forces, Party of Progress and Socialism, and Constitutional Union also saw reductions in their seat totals. A governing majority requires 198 seats. PAM has stated that it will seek a coalition with Istiqlal and smaller parties, as the three outgoing coalition parties together hold 228 seats, which is below the necessary threshold.