New reports from Public Affairs departments in several provinces have raised alarm within Morocco’s Ministry of Interior, as confidential documents reveal that traditional Tbourida equestrian shows are allegedly being exploited by local officials, regional councilors, and MPs to mobilize support ahead of the 2026 elections, according to Hespress sources.
The reports focus on regions like Casablanca-Settat, Rabat-Salé-Kénitra, and Béni Mellal-Khénifra, where there has been a noticeable presence of elected officials shifting party allegiance or seeking re-endorsement as new political faces enter the scene.
These gatherings, the same sources confirmed, involved current and former officials using associations, middlemen, and brokers to fund festivals, host lavish meals, and distribute food and money to Tbourida participants, all in an effort to show influence and compete for votes, especially in rural areas.
In response, the Ministry of Interior instructed local authorities to report any licensed events suspected of being used for electoral campaigning, including details on participants and supporters, with recent provincial reports noting an increase in cash transactions during the festival days.
The sources revealed that one report to the Ministry focused on a major political push by a potential parliamentary candidate, currently the head of a provincial council in Casablanca-Settat, who plans to switch political parties.
It also highlighted that Tbourida festivals will continue this summer in several provinces, including Berrechid, Mediouna, Nouaceur, Mohammedia, and Benslimane, with a noticeable presence of both current and aspiring parliamentarians.
The report further pointed to suspicious activities by a prominent candidate running a call center and aiming for one of the four seats in Berrechid, while a communal council head facing possible dismissal is hoping for an additional seat due to rising population density in his area, according to the latest census data.
The Ministry of Interior has intervened over the misuse of public funds for early election campaigning, after provincial governors recently warned local commune leaders not to use municipal resources or equipment for pre-election activities or political purposes.
This followed reports that some officials were using communal vehicles and equipment for political gain, in violation of the law—particularly Article 94 of Regulatory Law No. 113.14 on communes.
These reports from the Public Affairs departments were linked to instructions from Interior Minister Abdelouafi Laftit to provincial governors to closely monitor development projects set to be completed by mid-year in both urban and rural communes—particularly those involving access to clean drinking water, individual water hookups, student housing, and support centers for vulnerable groups.
The sources noted that these directives were prompted by reports received by the Ministry’s central services from multiple sources, raising suspicions that some commune presidents were deliberately stalling development projects or redirecting them to specific areas for electoral gain.
Other reports also pointed to suspicions that certain local council leaders and members exploited Ramadan food aid distribution to rally support in electoral districts as part of early campaigning efforts.
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