Polling Stations Open for Legislative Elections

On the morning of September 23, 2026, polling stations across Morocco commenced operations for the crucial legislative elections aimed at renewing the 395 representatives in the House of Representatives, which serves as the lower house of the nation's parliament. Voting is set to continue until 7:00 p.m. local time (1900 GMT), with approximately 15.8 million eligible voters anticipated to participate in this pivotal democratic exercise.

In this election, out of the 395 available seats in the House of Representatives, 305 will be contested through local electoral constituencies, while an additional 90 seats are specifically reserved for women through regional lists, reflecting Morocco's commitment to increasing female representation in governance. The Interior Ministry has reported that a total of 7,288 candidates have registered to run in this election, representing a diverse array of 28 political groups. Notably, women constitute 2,658 of the candidates, accounting for 36.47 percent of the total, highlighting progress towards gender equality in Moroccan politics.

Political Landscape and Major Parties

Morocco's political framework comprises a bicameral parliament, which includes both the House of Representatives and the House of Councilors. The current elections will determine the members of the House of Representatives across all twelve regions of the country, while the elections for the House of Councilors are scheduled for the following year, 2027. Major political players in this election include the National Rally of Independents, the Authenticity and Modernity Party, and the Istiqlal Party, all of which have been part of the outgoing government. They will face competition from the Justice and Development Party, which has previously led coalition governments following the general elections in 2011 and 2016, as well as other notable parties such as the Socialist Union of Popular Forces, the Popular Movement, and the Party of Progress and Socialism.

According to the Moroccan constitution, the king plays a pivotal role in the political process by appointing the prime minister from the party that secures the most seats in the elections, which then has the responsibility of forming the government. The outcome of this election is poised to significantly shape Morocco's political landscape and governance in the years to come.

As reported by english.news.cn.