PAM Youth Defends Election Result as Morocco’s Participation Debate Intensifies

Wednesday 30 September 2026 - 15:45

The youth organization of Morocco’s Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM) has defended the party’s leading position in the September 23 legislative elections, arguing that the outcome should be assessed through the overall results rather than through isolated incidents reported during the electoral process.

At a meeting held Monday in Rabat, the organization’s executive bureau said the political significance of the election should be considered on the basis of official figures and the nationwide vote, while rejecting what it described as “selective readings” of the results.

The final figures confirmed by the Ministry of the Interior place PAM at the top of the 395-seat House of Representatives with 97 seats. The National Rally of Independents (RNI) secured 66 seats, followed by the Istiqlal Party with 65. The Justice and Development Party (PJD) obtained 54 seats.

Youth wing highlights PAM’s parliamentary breakthrough

For PAM’s youth organization, the result represents an important stage in the party’s political trajectory. Its executive bureau praised the efforts of the party’s members and officials during the electoral campaign and linked the result to the organizational momentum experienced by the party in recent years.

The statement also referred positively to the period of collective leadership associated with Fatima-Zahra Mansouri, describing it as a phase of particularly strong internal and political momentum.

The organization separately congratulated young PAM candidates who won seats in the House of Representatives. Their election, it argued, reflects the importance of bringing younger generations into representative institutions and creating greater space for the renewal of political leadership.

The party’s youth structure has previously used initiatives such as PAM YOUTH OPEN MIC to create direct forums with young Moroccans and discuss their economic and social concerns.

Low turnout remains a concern

Despite celebrating PAM’s electoral performance, the youth organization also highlighted a major issue emerging from the September 23 vote: voter participation.

The Interior Ministry reported national turnout of 38.08%, with nearly six million voters taking part. The figure was significantly below the 50.86% recorded in the 2021 legislative elections and the 42.27% reported in 2016.

The PAM youth organization expressed particular concern over the limited participation of younger voters. It called for renewed approaches to political communication, civic awareness and youth engagement, arguing that political organizations need to develop more effective ways of connecting with this segment of the electorate.

The participation issue adds another dimension to the election results. While the distribution of parliamentary seats provides a clear picture of the relative strength of political parties inside the House of Representatives, turnout remains an important indicator of the extent to which registered voters participated in the process.

Debate over incidents and the interpretation of results

The youth organization also addressed criticism and discussions surrounding incidents reported in some constituencies during the electoral process.

Its position is that individual events should not become the principal basis for interpreting the national result. The organization said political parties retain the right to examine the conduct of elections and raise concerns, but argued that such discussions should take place within a broader assessment of the officially recorded results.

This position comes after the Interior Ministry said voting proceeded under generally normal conditions while acknowledging isolated incidents that, according to the ministry, did not affect the overall conduct of the election.

The final results were subsequently confirmed without changes to the provisional seat distribution. The counting commissions completed their work and deposited the relevant electoral records with the Constitutional Court, in accordance with the applicable procedures.

PAM youth organization prepares its next phase

Beyond the immediate post-election debate, PAM’s youth organization is preparing to expand its internal structures and activities.

According to its executive bureau, the organization intends to continue establishing regional structures, including in the remaining regions, while implementing training programs covering legal, political, economic and communication-related fields.

The organization also plans to intensify meetings with young people through the PAM YOUTH OPEN MIC initiative and prepare an open-days program aimed at strengthening communication with young people interested in political and party activities.

Another priority identified by the organization is greater involvement of secondary-school and university students in its internal decision-making mechanisms. It also plans to reinforce regional youth coordination bodies and expand its digital presence.

The initiatives point to an effort by PAM’s youth structure to translate its electoral momentum into longer-term organizational work, while addressing the participation challenge that emerged clearly from the September 23 legislative elections.

For the PAM youth organization, the next stage will therefore combine two objectives: consolidating the party’s position following its 97-seat result and developing new channels through which younger citizens can engage with political life.