Morocco’s parliamentary majority mirrors the Gov’t instead of acting independently

Morocco’s parliamentary majority tends to act more like an extension of the government than a separate power with its own political will, according to a book written by Mohamed Bendo, a senior staff member in the House of Representatives.

The research takes a close look at how the “majority system” functions inside Morocco’s Parliament. Titled “The Majority System in Moroccan Parliamentary Work: A Comparative Academic Study,” the research breaks down how the electoral system, party dynamics, and internal rules shape the behavior of MPs, and how that affects Morocco’s path toward a stronger parliamentary model.

One of the main conclusions is that the majority in Parliament usually aligns itself with the executive, limiting its ability to independently vote on laws or properly monitor government actions. 

Bendo says that this weakens Parliament’s role in representing the country’s will, which the 2011 Constitution clearly assigns to lawmakers.

To build his case, Bendo compared Morocco’s system with long-established democracies such as France, Germany, Italy, and Spain in order to understand how majority systems work elsewhere and where Morocco’s experience diverges. 

His research reveals that the challenge lies in achieving a real balance between the legislative and executive branches while keeping cooperation intact.

The study also raises the question of whether, under current conditions, Moroccan MPs can fully play their part in pushing the country’s democratic transition forward and defending the rule of law, welfare state goals, and institutional accountability.

The book has already drawn strong reactions from academics and political figures. Hassan Tariq, Morocco’s Ombudsman and a professor of political science, called the work a “comprehensive study” that tackles a long-standing problem: how much the parliamentary majority truly reflects popular will. 

Tariq said that Bendo goes beyond simple descriptions and actually dissects the gap between what the Constitution says and how things work in practice.

Tariq also pointed out that studying Morocco’s majority system requires understanding how parties and electoral rules interact, something that doesn’t always mirror European experiences. According to him, Bendo shows clearly how the majority has evolved into a force that mostly aligns with government choices.

Justice Minister Abdellatif Ouahbi said the book stands out from typical academic writing on Parliament. But he did, however, disagree with some of the author’s value judgments, such as the idea that political elites have failed to manage the majority system or to advance democratic transition.

The minister said that Morocco’s Parliament has often operated through a “third way,” political consensus, which softens the usual clash between majority and opposition.

Ouahbi said that this wide-ranging agreement explains why so many laws are passed smoothly, even if it blurs the lines between competing blocs.

Still, Ouahbi acknowledged that the book forces political actors to confront their own understanding of the majority system and how it actually plays out inside Morocco’s legislative institutions.