Shaky alliances and old tactics: Morocco's parties gear up for 2026 elections

Morocco’s political scene is buzzing as parties kick off 2025 with a flurry of activity. Both opposition groups and government allies are getting ready for the 2026 legislative elections, setting the stage for a fierce battle.

From ruling coalition parties to those on the sidelines, everyone is sharpening their strategies. While some aim to stay on top, others are working hard to improve their position in Morocco’s political landscape.

Analysts believe the main contest will be among the three parties in the current government coalition, but small parties like the Popular Movement Party, the Liberal Moroccan Party, and the National Democratic Party are also making their moves by founding a new political alliance called “The Popular Coalition.”

Political expert Idriss El Guenbouri says that it’s common to see these kinds of party movements in Morocco well before elections. 

According to him, this shows a desire to win elections rather than a real shift in how these parties engage with voters. 

The expert explains that winning elections in Morocco involves several factors, including the ballot box, but also notes that there’s no real concept of “small parties” in Morocco. 

“Parties aren’t measured by size but by other factors like financial, political, and administrative influence. He points out that in past Moroccan elections, even the so-called major parties, like the Istiqlal Party or the Justice and Development Party, have often lagged behind smaller parties in rankings,” says the El Guenbouri.

The political analyst says that focusing on party alliances has become a tradition in Morocco since the Democratic Bloc in the early 1990s. 

“However, back then, the bloc had a clear project, like constitutional reform. In contrast, today’s alliances are just temporary election pacts without real projects,” the analyst says.

These alliances, he adds, are more about trying to make up for failures in competing with other parties.

The analyst also believes that these alliances won’t bring meaningful change to the political system or the party scene unless they rethink their methods, programs, and leadership. 

Speaking specifically about The Popular Coalition, El Huenbouri says it includes three opposition parties that haven’t really fought for citizens’ rights. 

The political analyst doubts that even citizens know much about these parties, as they’re outside the government coalition but aren’t truly in opposition either. 

Given the current situation, El Huenbouri says that Morocco needs a real political rescue plan, not just new party alliances that are part of the same political system which has already hit a dead end.