Nizar Baraka confirms Istiqlal support for Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri

Wednesday 30 September 2026 - 16:32

Morocco has entered a new phase of political consultations following the 23 September legislative elections, with Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri beginning talks with parliamentary parties over the formation of the next government.

On Wednesday, 30 September, El Mansouri met in Rabat with an Istiqlal Party delegation led by Secretary-General Nizar Baraka. The meeting formed part of the initial consultations launched after King Mohammed VI appointed El Mansouri as Head of Government and tasked her with forming a new executive.

Istiqlal signals support for the next government

Speaking after the meeting, Baraka said the discussions focused on the political situation following the legislative elections and the challenges facing the country in the coming period.

According to the account provided, the Istiqlal leader indicated that his party would support El Mansouri in leading the government regardless of the position ultimately held by Istiqlal within the new executive.

The statement places emphasis on political cooperation at a moment when parliamentary parties are negotiating the composition of the next governing majority. El Mansouri's consultations are expected to determine both the configuration of the coalition and the distribution of government responsibilities.

Rebuilding confidence in political institutions

Baraka also highlighted the challenge of restoring public confidence in political action. In his remarks, he linked that objective to the implementation of commitments made by political parties during the electoral campaign.

The issue of political trust had already featured prominently in Istiqlal's campaign. Before the election, Baraka repeatedly called for greater cooperation between political actors and argued that the next stage required a stronger internal consensus around national priorities.

For the Istiqlal secretary-general, the post-election period should therefore move beyond electoral competition and concentrate on the responsibilities created by the country's wider economic, social and geopolitical challenges.

A new parliamentary balance

The consultations are taking place against a new parliamentary backdrop. The PAM emerged as the largest parliamentary formation in the 2026 legislative elections, with the RNI and Istiqlal also among the principal parties involved in discussions over the future majority. Official Moroccan information confirms that the 23 September vote was followed by the appointment of El Mansouri on 29 September.

The Istiqlal delegation received by El Mansouri included Baraka as well as Mohamed Ould Errachid, Abdessamad Kayouh and Abdeljabbar Rachdi. The meeting was held at the PAM headquarters in Rabat as the newly designated Head of Government began consultations with parliamentary parties.

The talks will now move toward the practical question of assembling a parliamentary majority capable of supporting the future government.

National priorities beyond party competition

Baraka presented Istiqlal's position as being guided by what he described as national and citizen interests. His comments echoed the party's pre-election emphasis on economic and social issues, including purchasing power, public services, employment and strategic sovereignty.

The coming negotiations will determine how these priorities are reflected in the programme of the next government and how the participating parties divide responsibilities within the executive.

With the first consultations now under way, Morocco's political parties are entering a period in which electoral results must be translated into parliamentary cooperation and, ultimately, a new government team.