Morocco’s three governing coalition parties are preparing for a highly competitive parliamentary election campaign ahead of the Sept. 23 vote, with several senior cabinet ministers expected to run for seats in a bid to strengthen their parties’ chances of leading the next government.
The liberal National Rally of Independents, which currently heads the ruling coalition, has intensified efforts to field prominent government figures in key electoral districts as it seeks to maintain its lead for a second consecutive term.
According to party sources, the party has already confirmed four ministers as candidates for the upcoming legislative elections.
Among them is Ahmed El Bouari, Morocco’s minister of agriculture, maritime fisheries, rural development and water and forests, who is expected to run in the Ouazzane constituency, his hometown, marking his first electoral contest.
The party has also officially nominated Karim Zidane, minister delegate in charge of investment and public policy evaluation, to head its list in the Chmaia constituency in Youssoufia province.
Mustapha Baitas, minister delegate for relations with parliament and government spokesperson, previously announced plans to run in the Sidi Ifni constituency, where he originates.
Party officials are also expected to nominate Lahcen Saadi, secretary of state for handicrafts and the social economy, in the northern Taroudant constituency.
The coalition’s second-largest member, the Authenticity and Modernity Party, is similarly preparing to deploy senior ministers in strategic districts as it aims to secure enough seats to potentially lead the next government.
Among the most prominent candidates is Fatima-Zahra Mansouri, minister of national territorial planning, urban planning, housing and city policy, and mayor of Marrakech. She is expected to run in the Marrakech Medina–Sidi Youssef Ben Ali district and is widely viewed as a potential candidate for prime minister.
In Rabat, the party is preparing to field Mohamed Mehdi Bensaid, minister of culture, youth and communication, in the Ocean constituency, while Abdellatif Ouahbi, the justice minister and former party secretary-general, is expected to contest the northern Taroudant district.
Azzedine El Midaoui, minister of higher education and scientific research, is expected to run in the Rehamna constituency, while junior ministers Adib Benbrahim and Hicham Sabri are slated to run in Rabat-Chellah and Beni Mellal, respectively.
Meanwhile, the conservative Istiqlal Party is also expected to rely heavily on its senior ministers in the upcoming elections.
Nizar Baraka, the party’s secretary-general and minister of equipment and water, is set to seek reelection in Larache, where he won a parliamentary seat in 2021.
Party sources also indicated that Abdessamad Kayouh, minister of transport and logistics, is expected to run in southern Taroudant, while Ryad Mezzour, minister of industry and trade, is likely to head the party’s list in Benslimane.
Omar Hejira, secretary of state for foreign trade, is also expected to contest elections in eastern Morocco, where he has previously held office.
Uncertainty remains over whether Abdeljabbar Rachidi, secretary of state for social inclusion, will run in Tangier.
The parliamentary elections are expected to shape Morocco’s next governing coalition and determine which party will lead the government amid increasing political competition among the country’s major parties.
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