Morocco's Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM) won 97 of 395 parliamentary seats on September 23. King Mohammed VI appointed PAM leader Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri as prime minister on September 29, making her the first woman to lead a Moroccan government. Her party's National Council gave her a mandate on October 3 to continue coalition negotiations.
Reports on October 7 indicate El Mansouri is favoring a four-party coalition with Istiqlal (65 seats), the Socialist Union of Popular Forces (USFP, 26) and the Party of Progress and Socialism (PPS, 19), totaling 207 seats, nine more than the 198 needed for a majority. The National Rally of Independents (RNI), which won 66 seats, is effectively ruled out. PPS was due to decide on participation October 6; no decision has been announced.
Why it matters
Morocco's next government oversees World Cup infrastructure and economic policy for five years, after record-low turnout.
Questions about this story
Free account needed to ask — your question is kept and asked for you right after sign-up. Answers are public.
No questions yet — be the first to ask.
Key Indicators
207
Proposed coalition seats
PAM, Istiqlal, USFP and PPS together would hold 207 of 395 seats, nine above the majority threshold.
15 events
Latest: Yesterday
Showing 8 of 15
JK to step
Tap a bar to jump to that date
Jump to
October 2026
Mansouri favors Democratic Bloc alliance, RNI ruled out
LatestCoalition talks
Reports indicate El Mansouri is leaning toward a coalition with Istiqlal, USFP, and PPS, totaling 207 seats, with RNI effectively excluded.
Coalition talks enter decisive phase
Coalition talks
Major parties back government participation as negotiations intensify, with the presidency of the Lower House emerging as a key factor.
PPS Central Committee convenes to decide on government participation
Coalition talks
The Party of Progress and Socialism's central committee is meeting to decide whether to join the coalition, after El Mansouri requested a meeting.
RNI National Council authorizes participation in government
Coalition talks
The National Rally of Independents' council approved joining the next government and authorized its leadership to negotiate terms of participation.
PAM National Council delegates coalition negotiation mandate to El Mansouri
Coalition talks
The party's National Council, meeting in Skhirat, authorized El Mansouri and a consultations commission (including Fouzi Lekjaa, Ahmed Akhchichine and Abdellatif Ouahbi) to continue negotiations.
El Mansouri meets UC and MDS in coalition talks
Coalition talks
El Mansouri received the Constitutional Union and Democratic and Social Movement at PAM headquarters, while PJD stayed away.
PPS undecided on joining coalition
Political statement
PPS secretary-general Benabdallah said after meeting El Mansouri that the party has not yet decided whether to join the government or stay in opposition.
September 2026
El Mansouri holds coalition talks with MP, USFP, and PPS
Coalition talks
El Mansouri received delegations from the Popular Movement, Socialist Union of Popular Forces, and Party of Progress and Socialism in Rabat as PAM seeks partners.
Benkirane says PJD will not attend meeting with El Mansouri
Political statement
PJD secretary-general Abdelilah Benkirane announced Wednesday evening that no party leaders would attend the Thursday meeting at PAM headquarters.
UC and MDS agree to form joint parliamentary group
Coalition talks
The Constitutional Union (17 seats) and Democratic and Social Movement (8 seats) announced they will sit together in the House, forming a joint parliamentary group of 25 seats.
PAM wins 97 seats, RNI 66, Istiqlal 65, PJD 54
Election results
Interior Minister Abdelouafi Laftit announced preliminary results. Turnout was 38%, the lowest in nearly two decades.
El Mansouri says premiership would be 'a great honor', opens coalition talks
Political statement
At a Rabat press conference, El Mansouri said she would have no 'red lines' in negotiations. 'We have turned the page,' she said, a shift from the campaign, when PAM ruled out renewing its partnership with RNI.
Benkirane alleges electoral fraud, keeps PJD in opposition
Political statement
PJD leader Abdelilah Benkirane called PAM's victory 'tainted by an electoral [fraud] operation' and said his party would not join a PAM-led government.
Moroccans vote in parliamentary election
Election
Polling day for the 395-seat House of Representatives amid youth unemployment and demands for better public services.
September 2021
RNI wins 2021 election; PJD collapses to 13 seats
Election
RNI led by Aziz Akhannouch won the most seats, ending a decade of Islamist-led government. PJD fell from governing party to 13 seats.
Scenarios
1
El Mansouri Named Morocco's First Female Prime Minister
Possible
Resolves by Dec 1, 2026
Discussed by: The National, ABC News, Reuters
King Mohammed VI appoints El Mansouri as required by the constitution, which mandates the prime minister come from the party with the most seats. She assembles a coalition with Istiqlal (65 seats) and leftist parties USFP, PPS, and FGD (53 combined), reaching a majority without RNI. The outcome depends on whether those parties accept PAM's policy terms and whether the palace backs her.
2
Lekjaa Chosen as Prime Minister for the World Cup Government
Possible
Resolves by Dec 1, 2026
Discussed by: ABC News
The king bypasses El Mansouri in favor of Fouzi Lekjaa, whose role as budget minister and football federation president makes him a natural manager of the 2030 World Cup build-out. Lekjaa joined PAM weeks before the vote, so his appointment would honor the election result while giving the palace a technocrat attuned to infrastructure and sports diplomacy.
3
PAM Forced Back Into Coalition With RNI
Unlikely
Resolves by Dec 15, 2026
Discussed by: The National
If Istiqlal or the leftist parties refuse PAM's terms, PAM may need RNI's 66 seats to reach a majority, despite ruling out a renewed partnership during the campaign. That would require swallowing a party PAM leaders publicly blamed for failed policies, producing a fragile coalition under heavy public scrutiny.
4
PJD Challenges Results Over Fraud Allegations
Possible
Resolves by Oct 31, 2026
Discussed by: Abdelilah Benkirane, Morocco World News
Benkirane called PAM's victory 'tainted by an electoral [fraud] operation' and said PJD would stay in opposition. If the party files formal complaints, Morocco's Constitutional Court would review them before certifying final results. A prolonged challenge would delay government formation.
5
Four-Party Coalition Without RNI
Likely
Resolves by Oct 9, 2026
Discussed by: Le360 sources, Morocco World News
El Mansouri is leaning toward a coalition with Istiqlal, USFP and PPS, totaling 207 seats. If all three agree, the government forms without RNI, which has expressed a desire to join but would be excluded.
Historical Context
3 moments from history that rhyme with this story — and how they unfolded.
1 of 3
September 2021
Morocco's 2021 election (2021)
The National Rally of Independents won the largest share in Morocco's 2021 election, ending a decade of Islamist-led government. The PJD, which had governed since 2011, collapsed to 13 seats. RNI went on to govern with PAM and Istiqlal.
Then
Aziz Akhannouch became prime minister and led a three-party coalition for five years.
Now
The coalition eroded amid policy disagreements; PAM and RNI relations grew strained, setting up the 2026 realignment.
Why this matters now
The 2021 result created the coalition that just fractured, with PAM now breaking from its former partner RNI.
2 of 3
July 2011
Morocco's 2011 constitutional reform (2011)
After Arab Spring protests, Morocco adopted a constitution requiring the king to appoint the prime minister from the party that wins the most parliamentary seats. The reform also expanded parliament's powers over legislation and the budget.
Then
The PJD won the 2011 election and formed a government, marking the first time the Islamist party led Morocco.
Now
The monarchy retained control over defense, foreign affairs, and strategic policy, meaning elections determine who manages the state but not who sets its core direction.
Why this matters now
This constitution is the mechanism that turns PAM's seat victory into a claim on the prime ministership.
3 of 3
October 2021
Tunisia appoints first Arab female prime minister (2021)
Tunisia's president appointed Najla Bouden as prime minister, making her the first woman to lead a government in the Arab world. Bouden, an engineering professor, formed a technocratic cabinet amid a political crisis.
Then
Bouden formed a government and served as head of state in a period of economic strain.
Now
Her appointment set a precedent for women leading Arab governments, though Tunisia's political trajectory since has been marked by executive centralization.
Why this matters now
If El Mansouri is appointed, she would be the second Arab woman to hold the post, drawing a direct comparison with Bouden.
