Morocco’s Ruling Coalition Faces Growing Tensions Ahead of Parliamentary Election

Political tensions are rising within Morocco’s governing coalition as its three main parties prepare for parliamentary elections later this month.

Morocco is scheduled to hold parliamentary elections on September 23, 2026, while the official campaign is expected to begin on September 10. However, disagreements among governing partners have already intensified, with accusations of political poaching, candidates changing camps and a leaked recording exposing divisions within the coalition.

About 15.8 million voters are registered for the election, according to the Interior Ministry. The election will determine the composition of the House of Representatives and play a major role in deciding who forms Morocco’s next government.

The National Rally of Independents (RNI), the Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM) and the Istiqlal Party currently govern together. Although they are coalition partners, they are also competing against one another for parliamentary seats, candidates and political influence.

A recent controversy involving a leaked audio recording has highlighted the growing rivalry between the RNI and PAM. The recording, attributed to House of Representatives Speaker Rachid Talbi Alami, appeared to criticise senior government figure and Budget Minister Fouzi Lekjaa.

The controversy has sparked responses from senior political figures, including Head of Government Aziz Akhannouch. Lekjaa also rejected suggestions that government positions should be divided before voters have cast their ballots.

The RNI won 102 seats in the 2021 parliamentary election, while PAM secured 87 and Istiqlal won 81. Together, the three parties formed the current governing coalition.

The election is expected to focus heavily on the cost of living, employment, healthcare, education and social protection. While the government points to economic growth, investment and reforms as achievements, opposition parties are expected to argue that many Moroccan households have not experienced enough improvement in their daily lives.

Employment could prove particularly important. The government had pledged to create at least one million net jobs between 2021 and 2026, but critics have questioned whether that target has been achieved.

The opposition Justice and Development Party (PJD) is also seeking to rebuild its political strength. The party governed Morocco from 2011 to 2021 but suffered a major defeat in the 2021 election, falling from 125 parliamentary seats to just 13.

Under Secretary-General Abdelilah Benkirane, the PJD hopes to regain support by highlighting issues including prices, employment, public services and alleged conflicts of interest.

The recent mass migration attempt towards Spain’s Ceuta enclave is another potentially sensitive election issue. The incident, which involved tens of thousands of people attempting to cross into the Spanish-administered territory, resulted in numerous deaths and raised questions about migration, youth opportunities, unemployment and Morocco’s relationship with Spain.

Social media is also expected to play an important role in the campaign. Political parties are using platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube to reach voters, while leaked recordings, accusations and misinformation can spread rapidly online.

Voter turnout will be another major challenge. Only about half of registered voters participated in the 2021 parliamentary election, highlighting the difficulty parties face in convincing politically disengaged citizens to take part.

Ultimately, the September 23 election will determine the balance of power in Morocco’s next parliament and influence the formation of the next government.

While internal disputes within the governing coalition may dominate political headlines, voters are likely to focus on more immediate concerns, including jobs, rising prices, public services, political trust and opportunities for young people.

The official campaign has yet to begin, but Morocco’s political battle is already well underway.