Moroccans abroad re-enter electoral spotlight ahead of 2026 legislative vote

With Morocco’s legislative elections set for Sept. 23, the political participation of Moroccans living abroad has returned to the spotlight, as a number of diaspora members are running as candidates for political parties in electoral districts inside Morocco.

The participation of Moroccans abroad in Moroccan political life is not new. Members of the diaspora have previously sought election from within Morocco and reached Parliament, while the question of how to ensure direct representation and participation in voting and candidacy from countries of residence has remained part of the broader political debate.

Morocco’s 2011 Constitution recognizes Moroccans residing abroad as having full citizenship rights, including the right to vote and stand for election. Article 17 also provides for their candidacies at the local, regional and national levels, while stating that the law determines the conditions and modalities for exercising those rights from countries of residence.

The 2026 elections have given renewed visibility to candidates with professional and personal experience abroad, some of whom say they want to bring diaspora concerns into Parliament while also representing the constituencies in which they are running.

Their candidacies raise broader questions about the role of Moroccans abroad in national political life, the extent of their participation in elected institutions and whether candidates with experience outside Morocco can combine that perspective with the responsibilities of parliamentary representation inside the country.

An extension of a political path

Kawtar Mouass, second on the regional list of the Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM) in Rabat-Salé-Kénitra, described her decision to run in the 2026 legislative elections as an extension of a civic and political path that began in Morocco before she moved to France.

Mouass told Hespress AR that her experience abroad broadened her perspective, particularly through her work in international politics and African affairs. She said living outside Morocco should not create distance between citizens and their country, but could instead provide additional experience that can be put at the service of Morocco and its diaspora.

On balancing life in France with parliamentary responsibilities, Mouass said that parliamentary work would become her priority if elected. At the same time, she said remaining in Paris would allow her to maintain contact with Moroccan communities, professionals, young people and economic and civil society actors abroad.

She described her potential role as a link between Morocco and Moroccans abroad, bringing their concerns to Parliament.

Among the issues she identified as priorities are simplifying administrative procedures and digitizing public services for Moroccans abroad. She argued that geographic distance should not become an “administrative distance” between citizens and their country, particularly for Moroccans living in countries such as Australia, Canada, the United States and China.

Mouass also highlighted the importance of maintaining younger generations’ connection to Moroccan identity, culture, language and history while taking into account the multiple identities and experiences they may have developed abroad.

She said Morocco could also make greater use of the skills and professional networks of its diaspora by connecting their expertise with the needs of the national economy and efforts to create jobs.

Another priority, she said, would be facilitating the return of Moroccans abroad who want to settle in Morocco by addressing challenges related to employment, education, housing, social protection, recognition of qualifications and professional experience acquired abroad.

Mouass also argued that Moroccans abroad should not be viewed solely as an economic resource or as a community that visits Morocco during holidays, but as Moroccan citizens with ties to the country and a stake in political and institutional life.

She called for the development of digital mechanisms allowing greater participation by Moroccans abroad in political life, including voting and candidacy.

Working through political parties

Ali Zoubair, president of the National Unity Organization of Moroccans Abroad and head of the Progress and Socialism Party (PPS) list in Jerada, said the political participation of Moroccans abroad had remained a subject of discussion since the adoption of the 2011 Constitution.

Zoubair said members of the diaspora had hoped to benefit from mechanisms allowing them to secure representation in Parliament, including through a national list or other arrangements, but that such mechanisms were not established for the 2011, 2016 and 2021 elections.

Ahead of the 2026 elections, he said, his organization decided to pursue participation through existing political parties. According to Zoubair, 12 members of the organization are currently running in different constituencies.

He argued that living in Europe does not necessarily prevent a person from carrying out parliamentary responsibilities in Morocco, citing relatively short travel times between Morocco and European countries as well as the growing use of digital communication and remote meetings.

If elected, Zoubair said he would seek to represent the local concerns of Jerada while also bringing diaspora issues before Parliament, including questions involving the Council of the Moroccan Community Abroad and institutions dealing with Moroccans living outside the country.

He said his parliamentary agenda would include proposing legislation concerning the diaspora, defending their interests and maintaining communication with Moroccan communities abroad.

Zoubair also called for greater representation of Moroccans abroad in future elections, including through mechanisms that would allow them to vote from their countries of residence or establish forms of representation within Parliament.

Representing Morocco at home and abroad

Mouna Ben Sayad, head of the regional list of the Moroccan Greens Party in Casablanca-Settat, said her candidacy also grew out of her previous civic and political involvement, including work with organizations focused on the concerns of Moroccans abroad.

Ben Sayad told Hespress AR that political participation was one of the factors behind her decision to run, arguing that Moroccans abroad should have effective opportunities to participate in political life through both voting and candidacy.

At the same time, she said she did not intend to limit her political work to diaspora issues, stressing that she would seek to represent Moroccans more broadly, particularly groups facing social and economic difficulties.

If elected, Ben Sayad said she would work on issues affecting both Moroccans living in the country and those abroad, including living standards, corruption, healthcare, education and environmental concerns.

She also pointed to Moroccans abroad who want to invest or settle in Morocco, arguing that improvements in public services and healthcare and education infrastructure could strengthen their ties to the country.

Ben Sayad also called for additional financial resources for social sectors, including through efforts to combat tax evasion.

She said her return from France to Morocco was influenced partly by her political and electoral activities, as well as a longstanding desire to return to the country. Her background in economics and finance, she said, could also contribute to her work in Parliament.

For her campaign, Ben Sayad said she was relying on direct communication with voters as well as digital platforms to present her program and her party’s positions.

As the Sept. 23 vote approaches, the candidacies of Moroccans with experience abroad are bringing a longstanding question back into the electoral debate: how the country can translate the constitutional recognition of diaspora political rights into effective participation and representation in Morocco’s elected institutions.