The political framework of Morocco

Political Outline

Current Political Leaders

King: MOHAMMED VI (since 30 July 1999) - hereditary
Prime Minister: Aziz AKHANNOUCH (since 7 October 2021)

Next Election Dates

House of Representatives: September 2026
House of Councillors: October 2027

Main Political Parties

Multi-party system, consisting of numerous parties. Parties work with each other to form coalition governments. The main parties represented in the parliament include:

- National Rally of Independents (RNI): centrist, relatively inclined towards social liberalism. Was the leading party in the last elections, heads the ruling coalition
- Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM): modernist and reform-oriented, formed by an advisor to the King and former Interior Minister
- "Istiqlal" Independence Party (PI): conservative nationalist
- People's Movement (MP): centrist, dominated by Berber (Tamazight) speakers, but without a distinct Berber agenda
- Socialist Union of Popular Forces (USFP): left-wing socialist
- Constitutional Union (UC): economically liberal, conservative on societal matters
- Justice and Development Party (PJD): moderate Islamist, was the ruling party between 2011-21
- Party of Progress and Socialism (PPS): socialist, formerly communist
- Democratic and Social Movement (MDS): social democracy, royalism
- Front of Democratic Forces (FFD): left-wing.

Executive Power

The executive power is shared between the government and the King. The Prime Minister serves as the head of government and as such presides over the Governing Council, but the Council of Ministers continues to be chaired by the King. The Government Council consists of all the ministers, deputy ministers and other Secretaries of State. It discusses public and sectoral policies, the commitment of the government's responsibility to the House of Representatives, current issues related to human rights and public order, bills, decrees, draft regulatory decrees and the appointment of secretaries and central directors of the public administration, university presidents, deans and directors of schools and higher institutes. The Governing Council has deliberative power concerning the general policy of the State, international conventions, and the finance bill. The Council of Ministers, chaired by the King and formed by the head of government and ministers, is responsible for the strategic direction of the state policy, the revision of the Constitution, drafting of organic laws, general guidance of the finance bill, amnesty, draft texts related to the military, the declaration of a state of siege, the declaration of war.

Legislative Power

The Parliament of Morocco is bicameral, comprising the House of Representatives (395 members elected by direct universal suffrage for five years) and the House of Councillors (up to 120 members elected by indirect universal suffrage for six years, representing local authorities, professional chambers, and labor organizations). The Parliament votes on laws, and any bill must be successively examined by the two Houses. Legislative initiative is shared between members of Parliament and the government, with certain bills, such as finance bills, required to originate in the House of Representatives.