Hello and welcome to Hespress English’s live coverage as Morocco elects its government.
Here is what you need to know about Morocco’s post-election period. Keep watch on our companion tracker for detailed developments as they happen.
15:26 | USFP chooses Lachgar, Aajab to continue government talks
The USFP named First Secretary Driss Lachgar and National Council President Mustapha Aajab to continue government formation talks with the Head of Government-designate Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri.
In a press release, the USFP emphasized that government is not an end in itself, whether the party is part of it or in opposition, but rather a national responsibility.
It emphasized that a government program can only succeed through a coalition whose members share common political and ideological beliefs.
14:17 | El Mansouri reacts to PJD opting out of talks
Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri reacted to the PJD’s decision not to attend the coalition talks, saying that all parties represented in Parliament received an invitation and that joining the talks remains each party’s choice.
El Mansouri emphasized that PAM wanted to meet all political parties immediately after winning the elections, stressing that “our common interest remains the nation.”
13:28 | Democratic and social movement ready to support new government
Democratic and Social Movement Party (MDS) Secretary-General Abdessamad Archane said his party is ready to support the new government but called for a program that addresses the previous government’s shortcomings, especially on social issues and purchasing power.
“We told the Head of Government we are ready to provide all the support needed to make this new and unique experience a success, especially as this is the first time in Morocco’s history that a woman has been appointed to this position. This is an important event in itself,” he emphasized.
Archane emphasized that his party wants the next five years to deliver on citizens’ expectations.
He noted further meetings will be held to discuss the shape of the next government as coalition talks continue.
12: 01| Constitutional Union puts jobs, purchasing power at center of coalition talks
The Constitutional Union called for youth employment, purchasing power, education and health care to feature prominently in the next government’s program, Secretary-General Mohamed Joudar said Thursday after meeting Head of Government-designate Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri and leaders of the PAM. Joudar also stressed the need for greater social and territorial equality.
The party said talks on forming the next government would continue with PAM and other political forces. Joudar also welcomed El Mansouri’s appointment and congratulated PAM on its first-place finish.
11: 48| RNI signals readiness to join Morocco’s next government
RNI has expressed its readiness to participate in the next government under Head of Government-designate Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri, saying it wants to help continue ongoing reforms and development projects.
In a statement issued after its political bureau met Tuesday, the party said participation in the next government would allow it to continue contributing from within government to completing ongoing reforms and addressing the challenges facing Morocco. The party’s national council is due to meet Saturday to deliberate and formally decide on its participation.
The statement acknowledged the party’s decline in the recent legislative elections but said the results nevertheless confirmed its position as a significant political force nationally, ending reports of internal opposition to joining forces with PAM.
20: 30| PPS’ Benabdellah says party’s position will depend on shape of next government
PPS Secretary-General Nabil Benabdellah said Wednesday that the party has not yet decided whether to join the next government or move into opposition, with its position also dependent sas on which other parties enter the coalition.
Speaking after talks with designated Head of Government Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri and PAM leaders, Benabdellah said the two sides identified several areas of common ground, including democracy, rights and freedoms, political de-escalation, reform of the Family Code and ethics in public life.
Benabdellah said PPS would continue internal discussions before taking a position, while waiting for PAM to complete its initial round of consultations with political parties. He said the party’s leadership is weighing different options for its role in the next political phase.
18: 50| PPS delegation meets PAM for government coalition talks
A delegation from the Party of Progress and Socialism (PPS) met Wednesday evening with the PAM committee led by the designated head of government, Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri, for government coalition talks.
The delegation is led by PPS Secretary-General Nabil Benabdellah and includes political bureau members Fatima Ezzahra Barsat, Said Akdad, Rachid Hammouni, and Abdelrahim Bennasser.
18: 40| The Left Alliance calls coalition with PJD impossible
The Secretary General of the United Socialist Party (PSU) speaking for the Left Alliance said a potential parliamentary coalition with the PJD is inconceivable, joking that such combinations do not work in politics.
Both parties have sided with opposition.
17: 55| Lachgar says USFP-PAM talks on government coalition will remain confidential
USFP First Secretary Driss Lachgar said their meeting with PAM will remain confidential until the newly appointed head of government finishes her talks with all political parties.
“Since meetings are confidential, these talks will remain so, with optimism, until El Mansouri finishes her talks with all parties,” he said.
Lachgar added that the talks were also an opportunity for members of the two parties to recall several political memories and events.
He noted that the meeting was also an opportunity to congratulate El Mansouri on the trust placed in her by King Mohammed VI.
Lachgar said that the USFP has always considered women’s issues a central concern and sees El Mansouri’s appointment as a real step forward for modernity and equality between men and women.
17: 35| RNI considers giving Chouki green light to continue government talks
A senior RNI official told Hespress AR that the party’s meeting with PAM this morning was held in a “positive atmosphere.”
The RNI political bureau is expected to meet at 6:30 p.m. to decide when the party’s National Council will meet and consider a recommendation allowing party president Mohamed Chouki to continue the government formation talks.
The official said the party wants to put the country’s interests first and give Chouki enough room to continue the talks before deciding whether RNI will join the government or move into opposition.
Another RNI political bureau member told Hespress the recommendation submitted to the National Council has not yet been decided, adding that the political bureau will meet with Morocco’s interests in mind and take into account the role RNI members have played in previous governments.
RNI will join the coalition if it believes this is in the country’s interests but will be ready to lead the parliamentary opposition if it decides otherwise, the source added.
17: 07| USFP’s Lachgar arrives at PAM headquarters for coalition talks
A delegation from the Socialist Union of Popular Forces (USFP) has just arrived at PAM headquarters for government coalition talks.
The delegation is led by USFP’s First Secretary Driss Lachgar and National Council President Mustapha Aajab.
16: 54| Ouzzine says PAM, PM hope for ‘positive break’ with previous phase
Mohamed Ouzzine, secretary-general of Morocco’s Popular Movement Party, revealed that his party and PAM have agreed on the need for a “positive break” with the previous phase, adding that he hopes “both government and opposition parties will live up to expectations.”
He stressed that what matters most is the country, not whether a party is in government or opposition.
“We all aim to serve the country from wherever we are, whether in government or opposition,” he said, arguing that governments come and go while “the country remains the country.”
The secretary-general of the PM said that today’s meeting came following an invitation from the newly appointed head of government, adding that it was also an opportunity to congratulate El Mansouri on the trust placed in her by King Mohammed VI and wish her success.
He also said that the meeting covered issues of concern to citizens, including youth, with many young people outside the social system.
He called for greater openness to young people and solutions for them and also raised integrated territorial development programs and geopolitical issues, including the autonomy plan and challenges facing Morocco.
16: 38| Senior RNI figures in Casablanca- Settat back joining PAM-led government
Senior RNI figures in the Casablanca-Settat region are pushing for the party to join the government being formed by the newly appointed head of government, Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri, according to Hespress AR sources.
A meeting held at the home of Chafik Benkirane two days ago brought together MPs elected in the September 23 legislative elections, provincial coordinators, and regional coordinator Mohamed Boussaid.
Most speakers backed joining the government rather than moving into opposition.
Some MPs called for the party to sit in opposition over what happened with their coalition partner during the election campaign.
Others, including senior and younger party members, called for the campaign to be left behind and for the party to focus on what comes next.
They stressed the importance of joining the government, saying Moroccan voters did not punish the RNI as some had claimed and instead placed it second.
Most of the interventions backed joining the government coalition, as this would help the party stay close to citizens ahead of the 2027 local elections.
15:35| Ouzzine arrives at PAM headquarters for coalition talks
Mohamed Ouzzine, secretary-general of Morocco’s Popular Movement Party, arrives at the PAM headquarters for coalition talks.
The secretary-general is accompanied by Hicham Rahil, a member of the party’s political bureau, and Mohand Laenser, president of the Popular Movement.
14:05| Benkirane says meeting with El Mansouri won’t change PJD’s stance
Justice and Development Party (PJD) leader Abdelilah Benkirane told Hespress AR that the upcoming meeting with El Mansouri will not change the PJD’s decision to join the opposition.
He said the party’s National Council unanimously decided last Saturday not to join the next government and instead sit in the opposition.
“Period,” he said, noting that all PJD bodies had backed a strong institutional opposition.
The party’s General Secretariat had earlier said the PJD’s “natural place” is in a responsible and strong national opposition.
Benkirane ruled out any change in the party’s position after the meeting, especially after PJD came fourth in the elections with 54 seats, more than quadrupling its previous 13 seats.
13:44| Baraka says Istiqlal to discuss coalition this weekend
Istiqlal Secretary-General Nizar Baraka said the party’s National Council will meet this weekend to discuss whether to join the next government.
Speaking after talks with designated Head of Government Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri, Baraka emphasized that restoring trust in politics means delivering on the promises made in parties’ election programs.
He said the talks with PAM were an opportunity to congratulate the party on its election results, calling Mansouri’s appointment as Head of Government a historic moment, as she is the first woman to hold the position.
Baraka added that the talks also focused on the current political situation, which he said was important given the many challenges that need to be addressed.
He also talked about the issue of trust in political life, emphasizing that it’s necessary to rebuild trust in politics.
Baraka said election programs included many commitments, adding that delivering on them is key to rebuilding trust, while focusing on social issues is essential to restoring young people’s trust, giving them hope, and opening new opportunities.
He added that Istiqlal will continue to support the political process regardless of its position.
The party believes Morocco needs broad mobilization to move beyond electoral competition and focus on building national strength to tackle its strategic, economic, and social challenges, including jobs, investment, citizens’ purchasing power, and expanding the middle class.
Baraka also said Istiqlal would continue to defend Morocco’s territorial integrity and national symbols, calling this a position in line with Morocco’s national stance.
13:10| PPS to join government coalition talks
PPS Secretary-General Nabil Benabdellah has received a call from the newly appointed head of government, Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri, to set up a meeting as part of the government formation talks, a senior PPS official told Hespress AR.
Benabdellah is expected to join the second or third round of talks, the source added.
The expected meeting comes as PPS secured 19 seats in the September 23 elections, placing it seventh among the parties in Parliament.
12:22| PAM begins coalition talks with Istiqlal
PAM has received the Istiqlal delegation at its headquarters in Rabat for talks on forming the next government.
Istiqlal’s delegation includes Secretary-General Nizar Baraka, National Council President Abdeljabbar Rachidi, and Executive Committee members Abdessamad Kayouh and Mohamed Ould Errachid.
12:05| Chouki says talks with El Mansouri were “clear and frank”
RNI President Mohamed Chouki said talks with the newly appointed Head of Government Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri were “clear and frank,” adding that his party will put the national interest first in its future role.
Speaking at a press conference after the talks, Chouki congratulated El Mansouri on her appointment by King Mohammed VI, calling Morocco’s first appointment of a woman as head of government a “historic moment in the country’s political history.”
“We had responsible discussions with the designated Head of Government, with clarity and frankness,” Chouki said.
The RNI president said the meeting was also an opportunity to discuss El Mansouri’s vision for the future, adding that “RNI is a responsible party that will contribute in the future while putting the national interest first at all times, as it has always done.”
11:24| RNI delegation arrives for government coalition talks
PAM has begun consultations with political parties to form the next government, receiving an RNI delegation at its headquarters in Rabat.
RNI President Mohamed Chouki led the delegation, accompanied by Rachid Talbi Alami and Mohamed Boussaid, a member of the RNI political bureau.
PAM’s consultation team includes the newly appointed head of government, Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri, PAM Political Bureau members Abdellatif Ouahbi, Fouzi Lekjaa, and PAM Academy President Ahmed Akhchichine.
PAM is expected to meet an Istiqlal delegation led by Nizar Baraka next.
A meeting with the Popular Movement is scheduled for 3 p.m., while talks with the Justice and Development Party have yet to be scheduled.
11:05 | Coalition talks begin at PAM headquarters
Abdellatif Ouahbi has arrived at PAM headquarters in Rabat to take part in the government coalition talks.
He received RNI’s Mohamed Chouki, Rachid Talbi Alami, and Mohamed Boussaid.
23:00 | PAM reiterates ‘royal confidence’ put in El Mansouri, assures party cooperation across all spectrums
PAM called El Mansouri’s nomination “a significant milestone for Moroccan women and the country’s democratic process,”
PAM said it was extending a “hand of dialogue” to all political forces, with the aim of forming a strong and cohesive government while also encouraging cooperation across the political spectrum, whether in government or opposition. The party expressed confidence in El Mansouri’s ability to lead the next phase and meet the expectations of the king and Moroccan citizens.
22:00 | Head of Government of Government-elect prepares for consultations on Wednesday
El Mansouri will meet with representatives of the National Rally of Independents, or RNI, and the Istiqlal Party in Rabat as she begins negotiations with potential coalition partners.
The first meeting is scheduled for 11 a.m. with an RNI delegation led by party president Mohamed Chouki, followed by a noon meeting with an Istiqlal delegation headed by Secretary-General Nizar Baraka. Each meeting will be followed by a news conference, according to the parties.
16:00 | King appoints PAM’s El Mansouri as Head of Government
The Chief Executive elect is now tasked with forming a government, as numbers sway towards a 2021 sequel. Hespress sources within the RNI say the party is ready to join a PAM-led coalition, despite internal opposition to the idea. The Istiqlal Party, third seat holder in this election, said it is open to coalition negotiations under PAM.
Parties such as the PJD and the left alliance have declared their intention to side into the opposition.
22:50 | The claims are getting national. The count still isn’t.
PJD says it is leading across a string of cities. RNI says it expects to finish first. PAM says its early results look “very positive.” The rhetoric has gone national faster than the count has.
What is becoming clearer is the local picture. PAM has the strongest early showing in Rabat, with provisional results putting it first in both Rabat-Ocean and Rabat-Chellah. In Ocean, Mehdi Bensaid had 7,386 votes, ahead of PJD on 5,868, with 68% counted in the tally shared with us.
Taroudant is a good warning against reading too much into the first numbers. An earlier count from Houara had PJD comfortably ahead there. A later tally had Istiqlal’s Abdessamad Kayouh leading Taroudant Al Janoubia overall.
So for now the useful conclusion is fairly modest: PAM is showing early strength in Rabat, Istiqlal is competitive in Taroudant, and the parties are already selling national momentum.
21:51 | Turnout 38.02%
The interior ministry has now confirmed voting closed nationwide at 7 pm, with turnout finishing at 38.02%, a hard number to build the analysis around, and one worth returning to.
The ministry said voting went smoothly across the country, with only a handful of isolated, limited exceptions, and that counting started immediately at polling stations in what it described as a positive atmosphere, with party and list representatives present to observe.
As the count moves through its first stage, several parties are already circulating their own internal tallies, with officials from a number of the major lists telling supporters and local media they’re seeing strong numbers in their strongholds. These early claims are based on party observers’ own counts at individual polling stations, not on any official tabulation, the interior ministry’s central offices and the judge-led counting commissions haven’t yet compiled or confirmed constituency results
20:10 | Voting is over. Now comes the messy part.
Polls have closed across Morocco after 11 hours of voting, and the last national turnout figure we have is 28.05% at 5 p.m. The Interior Ministry has not yet given a final number. From here, there is no single result waiting to drop.
Each polling station counts its own ballots first and produces a procès-verbal, or PV. Those numbers then begin moving upward through the official count. At the same time, parties are running their own parallel operation, collecting PVs from representatives around the country and adding them up at headquarters. We are about to get a lot of numbers that look comparable and often are not.
17:00 | National turnout reaches 28.05% as PAM responds to Tangier claims
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Voters continued to cast their ballots under normal conditions at polling stations across Morocco on Wednesday, with a national voter turnout reaching 28.05% as of 5 p.m., reports Morocco’s Interior Ministry.
- PAM responded to the Tangier controversy in an official statement, calling the allegations “a campaign targeting the party.”
15:00 | Turnout reaches 21% nationwide as Tangier ballot-box case draws judicial scrutiny
- The Interior Ministry said national turnout reached 21% by 3 p.m., up from 11.34% at noon and 4.23% at 10 a.m. Voting was continuing under normal conditions nationwide, according to reports from prefectures, provinces and prefectural districts. That means turnout rose by 9.66 percentage points between noon and 3 p.m., a faster three-hour increase than the morning pace.
- Tangier case: Police detained a person inside a polling station at Al Quds School in the Casabarata district on suspicion of possessing illegal ballot papers, sources told Hespress.
12:00| Turnout climbs to 11.34% at noon, Interior Ministry says
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- The Interior Ministry has issued its second communiqué of the day, saying voting is continuing under normal conditions nationwide, based on information received from prefectures, provinces and prefectural districts across the country.
- National turnout stood at 11.34% as of noon. up from the 4.23% recorded at 10 a.m., meaning roughly 7.1 percentage points were added in the two hours in between. Still early to draw conclusions, but this gives the first real sense of pace.
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11:16 | Voting under way: Interior Ministry confirms normal start as first turnout figure lands, early scenes emerge, and one flashpoint is defused
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Interior Ministry communiqué: Voting opened as scheduled at 8 a.m. across all polling stations nationwide “under normal conditions,” with candidate-list representatives present for both local and regional constituencies. First national turnout figure: 4.23% as of 10 a.m, too early to read as a trend, but worth tracking against later readings and against 2021’s pace at the same hour.
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First party figures voting: PAM coordinator Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri voted in Marrakech, calling for strong turnout, a message likely to be echoed by other party figures through the day, given how central turnout has become to this vote’s credibility after 2021’s roughly 50% showing. Leaders due to vote in Rabat before midday: Istiqlal’s Nizar Baraka (10:30), PPS leader Nabil Benabdallah (11:00), RNI president Mohamed Chaouki (11:30), PJD leader Abdelilah Benkirane (noon), a tight two-hour window that functions, in part, as a coordinated turnout appeal.
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Scenes from around the country: Images coming in from Marrakech, Tangier, Errachidia, Casablanca, Oujda and elsewhere. African Union observers were visible inside polling stations in Rabat, underlining the international scrutiny on this vote, while reporters are covering voting from Laayoune and other regional centres.
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El Jadida hit-and-run clarified: Prosecutors said preliminary findings show no link between a viral hit-and-run video and any electoral dispute, after social media posts had claimed a driver deliberately targeted a candidate. The speed of the clarification, before midday, with voting barely under way, suggests authorities are moving quickly to keep unverified claims from shaping the day’s narrative.
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23:54 | Campaign silence begins as polls prepare to open
Morocco votes for a new parliament tomorrow. The campaign closed at midnight Tuesday; we’re now entering the mandatory silence period, and there’s no late polling to go on, so nobody really knows where this stands heading in.
Polls run 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., with 15.8 million registered voters. Turnout will be the first real number to come out, before the actual count begins.
On substance, the final stretch of the campaign has mostly been about the outgoing government’s record, argued from different sides. The RNI is running on its numbers in health, education, employment and social protection. PAM has focused on purchasing power, and that argument has centered on one figure: 280 billion dirhams.
Budget Minister and PAM political bureau member Fouzi Lekjaa cited that figure as the amount mobilized over five years to support purchasing power, while himself raising doubts about how effective it’s actually been. The PJD, PPS and Alliance of the Left have since picked up the same number and turned it into a line of attack against the government. Istiqlal’s pitch has been more about structural change: wages, housing, and cutting the country’s dependence on imported energy, food and medicine.
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