Amine Essaid says party-switching could reshape Morocco's electoral map ahead of the September vote Morocco’s political landscape is moving fast as legislative elections approach, marked by party transfers and repositioning — most notably Fouzi Lekjaa’s move to the Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM).
Amine Essaid, professor of constitutional law and political science at Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah University in Fez, told MT that Lekjaa’s move carries real political meaning but won’t alone shift the balance of power, unless paired with genuine authority over party decisions.
A figure’s real impact, Essaid said, isn’t tied to joining a party but to the power they hold to shape strategy and influence major choices — political weight is measured by actual involvement in party institutions, not symbolic presence. Lekjaa’s footprint will stay limited if confined to political bureau membership, he added; a leadership role would give him more room to shape party messaging and attract talent and candidates.
Essaid noted that Lekjaa’s influence also depends on PAM’s internal balances, since shifting the party’s direction takes time and consensus-building, given differing views on candidacies and alliances. Any transformation will be gradual, he said, not tied to one person.
PAM’s current priority, he argued, is preparing for the September 23 elections and securing the best result, with debate over the party’s future postponed until after results are announced.
The coming elections will unfold in a different context than before, Essaid said, following deep shifts that reshuffled the balance of power between parties. The movement of political figures between parties, he said, has become an influential factor in shaping the electoral map.
Governing coalition parties are positioned to hold onto much of their standing, he added, thanks partly to their reliance on local notables and elected officials able to win votes — meaning the “political mercato” could outweigh competing platforms as a factor in the 2026 results.
Essaid concluded that variables including the fallout from events in occupied Ceuta will force parties to reorder their priorities during the campaign, with greater focus on employment, unemployment, and winning back young voters’ trust.