Morocco’s Istiqlal Party has unveiled an initial list of candidates for the 2026 parliamentary elections in local constituencies, nominating four members of the current government, including two ministers and two secretaries of state, while fielding only one woman so far.
The list, published by the party’s Executive Committee, includes Istiqlal Secretary-General and Minister of Equipment and Water Nizar Baraka, who will run in the Larache constituency.
The party also nominated Minister of Industry and Trade Ryad Mezzour in Benslimane and Minister of Transport and Logistics Abdelsamad Kayouh in Taroudant South.
Secretary of State for Foreign Trade Omar Hejira will contest the Oujda-Angad constituency.
Across the country’s 12 regions, the party announced candidates for most local constituencies, including several current MPs and senior party officials.
In the Rabat-Salé-Kénitra region, Istiqlal nominated Abdelilah Bouzidi in Rabat Ocean, Mohamed Karboub in Salé Al Jadida, Rachid Sajid in Skhirate-Témara, Mohamed Azri in Kenitra, Mohamed Himi in Khemisset-Maas, Bouamar Tagouane in Tiflet-Rommani, Mohamed El Hafez in Sidi Kacem and Noureddine Radi in Sidi Slimane.
In the Casablanca-Settat region, the party selected Hassan Berkani for Casablanca-Anfa, Hussein Nasrallah for Fida-Mers Sultan, Rachid Afilal for Ain Sebaa-Hay Mohammadi, Hicham El Haid for Sidi Bernoussi, Mohamed Rekkani for Hay Hassani, Mahfoud Tehiris for Ben M’Sik, Abdelilah Amhadi for Moulay Rachid, Said Tedlaoui for Mohammedia, Ali Ziyoun for Nouaceur, Hicham Amine Chafik for Mediouna, Khaled El Ibrahimi for Berrechid, M’Barek Tarmounia for El Jadida, Abdelghani Mekhdad for Sidi Bennour and Hamdallah Bouchaib for Settat.
The only woman named in the initial list is Madiha Khayr, who will represent the party in the Beni Mellal constituency.
The party has yet to announce its candidates in the Moroccan Sahara regions of Laayoune-Sakia El Hamra and Dakhla-Oued Eddahab.
The absence of candidates follows the departure of several prominent Istiqlal figures in Dakhla-Oued Eddahab, including regional council president El Khattat Yanja, who recently joined the Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM).
Istiqlal has also not yet released its candidates for the regional electoral lists.
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