Moroccan artists take a visible role in the 2026 legislative election campaign

Wednesday 16 September 2026 - 21:35

As Morocco approaches its legislative elections on September 23, the country's artistic community is becoming increasingly visible in the campaign. Actors, directors and other cultural figures are appearing at political gatherings, supporting candidates, producing campaign material and, in some cases, seeking office themselves.

The growing presence comes during an officially regulated campaign period running from September 10 through September 22. The election will determine the 395 members of the House of Representatives.

From campaign appearances to political involvement

The participation of well-known cultural figures is taking several forms. Some artists have appeared at party events without formally joining a political organization, while others have opted for a more direct and sustained role.

Director Amine Nassour and actors Abdellah Ferkous and Farid Regragui have been seen at a gathering associated with the Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM), illustrating how familiar faces from Morocco's entertainment sector are becoming part of the campaign landscape.

Other figures have gone further by formally associating themselves with political parties. Actor Saïd Aït Baja and artist Saad Tssouli are involved with the National Rally of Independents (RNI) through its National Federation of RNI Artists.

Meanwhile, actress Fatima Ouchay is running under the banner of the Justice and Development Party (PJD) in the Casablanca-Settat region. The PJD's official candidate platform identifies Ouchay as the head of its regional list there.

The phenomenon is not limited to rallies. Artists including Soukaina Darabil, Zouhour Slimani and Benaïssa Jirari have also appeared in campaign videos designed to give political messages greater visibility across digital platforms.

A distinction between support and political commitment

For Saïd Aït Baja, entering politics represents more than lending celebrity status to an election campaign.

The actor has described his political affiliation as the result of a personal and intellectual decision, arguing that long-term participation in political life should be distinguished from appearing at a party event simply because a public figure is well known.

That distinction has become particularly relevant as political parties compete for attention during a campaign characterized by extensive public and digital communication.

Aït Baja has presented the National Federation of RNI Artists as an attempt to give artists a more organized place within political life. In this view, cultural figures should not be regarded merely as campaign attractions whose visibility disappears once voting ends.

Instead, he argues that artists can contribute to political debate through their understanding of social developments and their direct relationship with audiences.

Visibility brings public responsibility, artists argue

The debate also raises questions about the political weight of celebrity.

Aït Baja has rejected the idea that an artist's popularity should automatically be treated as an electoral asset. His position is that public recognition carries a corresponding responsibility, particularly when an artist chooses to express political views openly.

That perspective places emphasis on the difference between being invited by a political organization because of one's fame and joining a party because of an identification with its political project.

Other artists participating in the campaign have adopted different forms of involvement, underlining the diversity of relationships between Morocco's cultural sector and political parties.

The presence of artists also reflects the increasingly broad range of communication channels used during the 2026 election campaign. Alongside traditional rallies and meetings, parties are relying on short videos and social media content to reach voters.

Artists and the question of civic participation

Beyond individual affiliations, some of the artists involved have framed their participation around a broader call for citizens to take part in public life.

Morocco's electoral authorities have emphasized the importance of preserving voters' freedom of choice and have established rules governing campaign practices, political communication and campaign financing. The High Authority for Audiovisual Communication has also introduced measures aimed at protecting political pluralism and limiting misleading electoral content, including deceptive AI-generated material.

The scale of the contest is substantial. According to provisional figures published by Morocco's government, 1,850 candidate lists were submitted nationwide, representing 7,288 candidates for the September 23 election.

Within that crowded electoral field, artists bring a different form of visibility to political campaigning. Their involvement does not follow a single model: some support individual candidates, some participate in campaign productions, while others have entered party structures or are standing as candidates.

As the campaign moves toward its final days, their presence adds another dimension to a legislative contest in which political parties are seeking to connect with voters through both traditional political organization and increasingly personalized forms of public communication.