This update focuses on PJD legislative elections. Morocco’s Justice and Development Party (PJD) is claiming a strong comeback after the 23 September legislative elections, while announcing it will go to court over practices it says tainted the vote.
PJD legislative elections: a claimed comeback
Meeting in an extraordinary session in Rabat under the leadership of Secretary General Abdelilah Benkirane, the PJD’s general secretariat delivered an upbeat reading of the provisional results. In a statement, the Islamist-rooted party said that the 54 seats it secured in the House of Representatives amount to “a major performance”.
This result would multiply its parliamentary presence several times compared to the previous term. The party sees it as proof that it remains firmly anchored in the political landscape and that it has managed to rebuild part of its electoral base.
The PJD points to renewed strength in large and medium-sized cities, as well as gains in several predominantly rural constituencies. For its leadership, these results show that a segment of voters still trusts the party and that, in its view, attempts to sideline it from the national scene have failed.
A stronger opposition role in parliament
The PJD notes that almost all members of its general secretariat who ran in the legislative elections won their seats, with only one exception, often coming first in their constituencies with a wide lead.
According to the party, this new balance of power will allow it to continue its work from the opposition benches with reinforced parliamentary weight. The statement links this dynamic to several factors:
- the work carried out in opposition over the past years;
- a campaign described as “clean”, both politically and organisationally;
- its past experience heading the government, presented as proof of “honest and responsible” public management.
The party also pays special tribute to Abdelilah Benkirane, highlighting his personal involvement in the campaign, his trips across various regions, and his role in leading rallies.
Legal action and what it means for overseas Moroccans
Despite its positive tone on the PJD legislative elections performance, the statement says the party is denouncing certain practices observed during the vote in specific constituencies. It plans to bring alleged irregularities before the courts and to use all available legal channels.
For Moroccans living abroad, this reshaped parliamentary landscape and the PJD’s louder voice in opposition are developments to watch in the medium term. The real impact will be felt on issues that directly affect their ties with the country, such as public services governance, the business climate, tax debates, or public policies on return and investment.
At this stage, no concrete decision has been announced regarding administrative procedures for Moroccans abroad or their travel to and from the country. For now, the Moroccan diaspora will mainly follow how parliamentary debates evolve and how the opposition, including the PJD, positions itself on topics that concern them.
Much will depend on the outcome of the announced legal challenges and the final official election results. It will also hinge on how different political forces choose to represent, or overlook, the priorities of overseas Moroccans in the coming months.
A party seeking to capitalise on the vote
The PJD’s general secretariat also highlights the mobilisation of its grassroots activists, candidates and structures at national, regional, provincial and local levels. It considers that one of the main outcomes of this electoral sequence is the renewed internal energy of the party.
For observers and voters alike, the 23 September vote marks a new phase in Moroccan political life, with a more visible PJD in the House of Representatives and a party determined to use legal tools, including court action, to influence institutional dynamics.
For more context, readers can follow Canal212 news for Moroccans abroad.
For official updates, readers can check the relevant official source.
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