Morocco sees political shifts ahead of 2026 elections

In preparation for the 2026 legislative elections, three Moroccan political parties—the Union marocaine pour la démocratie, the Parti de la Renaissance, and the Parti de l’Unité et de la Démocratie—have formed a new coordination framework called ‘La patrie maintenant’. Coordinator Ilham Belfahili described the initiative as a political alliance aimed at harmonizing positions on social and political issues, such as fighting corruption and addressing declining purchasing power. The group intends to build a societal project that prioritizes the involvement of women and youth.

In the Ouarzazate province, a group of political actors, activists, and elected officials have left the Rassemblement national des indépendants (RNI) to join the Parti authenticité et modernité (PAM). The group cited a lack of local listening and the imposition of specific candidates as reasons for their departure. They expressed support for Abdellatif Afir, protesting against the RNI's selection of Youssef Chari, whom they criticized for a lack of field presence and development achievements in the region.