Who is barred from running for Parliament under Morocco’s amended electoral law?

Morocco’s parliamentary elections, scheduled for Sept. 23, 2026, will be the first held under stricter candidate eligibility rules following amendments to the country’s electoral law.

The changes, introduced through Organic Law No. 53.25 amending the law governing the House of Representatives, expand the categories of individuals barred from running for Parliament as part of broader efforts to strengthen transparency and reinforce public confidence in the electoral process.

Under the revised legislation, individuals prosecuted after being caught in the act of committing offenses affecting integrity, public morality or the fairness of elections may be deemed ineligible to stand as candidates.

The restrictions also apply to individuals who lose their electoral eligibility following appeal court convictions, those convicted at first instance of felonies, and elected officials removed from office through final judicial rulings.

The provisions cover incidents occurring between the opening of candidate registration and election day.

If a candidate becomes subject to one of the disqualifying conditions during the registration period, the electoral authorities must reject the candidacy. If the incident occurs after the registration deadline but before polling day, the candidate’s registration is cancelled.

The amendments sparked debate in Parliament, with critics arguing that disqualifying candidates before a final criminal conviction could undermine the presumption of innocence.

Morocco’s Constitutional Court, however, upheld the provisions, ruling that Parliament has the authority to establish eligibility criteria for elected office and that the measures do not amount to criminal sanctions or a determination of criminal responsibility.

The court said the restrictions do not affect defendants’ procedural rights or fair trial guarantees, which remain protected before the criminal courts. Instead, it described the measures as preventive safeguards designed to preserve the integrity and credibility of the electoral process.

The reform also reverses one of the restrictions introduced ahead of the 2021 elections.

Under the previous rules, members of Parliament could not simultaneously serve as presidents of prefectural, provincial or municipal councils in cities with more than 300,000 residents. The amended law removes that prohibition, allowing locally elected officials to continue serving in Parliament.

Lawmakers argued that the change would enable experienced local officials to contribute to national legislation while strengthening coordination between local and national governance.

At the same time, the law tightens restrictions in other areas.

The ban on elected officials removed from office has been extended from one electoral term to two full terms, preventing officials dismissed for serious legal violations from seeking elected office again during that period.

The amendments also lengthen restrictions on certain public officials. The cooling-off period before they may run in national elections has been doubled from one year to two years, while the restriction on running in constituencies where they previously exercised official duties has been extended from two years to four years.