Morocco’s ruling allies turn on each other before election campaign begins

Morocco’s governing allies are trading accusations, politicians are switching camps and a leaked recording has exposed tensions at the top of the ruling coalition – all before the official campaign begins on September 10. Moroccans are due to vote for a new parliament on September 23, with candidate nominations opening on August 31. By the afternoon of the first day, 702 candidate lists from 27 political parties had been submitted, according to the Interior Ministry. About 15.8 million voters are registered for the election, according to the Interior Ministry, in a country of 36.8 million people, according to the 2024 census. Its politicians have challenged it over issues such as alleged conflicts of interest, prices, employment and public services. The cost of living, employment, healthcare and education have long been among voters’ top concerns and remain so ahead of the election. Employment will be another major concern, particularly for young people. Employment is likely to be one of the biggest tests of the government’s record. By the end of 2025, net job creation stood at about 95,000, according to an analysis by Medias24, although the government uses a different measure, saying 850,000 non-agricultural jobs were created between 2021 and 2025. The issue gives opposition parties a powerful campaign line: whether voters should judge the government by its promises or by the employment situation they see around them.