Morocco votes in parliamentary elections amid cost-of-living and unemployment concerns

Moroccans are voting in parliamentary elections on Wednesday, with polling stations opening across the country as parties compete for control of the House of Representatives. The election is taking place against a backdrop of concern over prices, unemployment and inequality. Nearly 16 million registered voters are eligible to choose 395 members of parliament.

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Polling stations are scheduled to open at 8am local time and close at 7pm, with preliminary results expected later in the night. Turnout among younger voters is being closely watched, after officials said only about 4% of those registered are aged 18 to 24. The vote is also being held less than two months after a surge of mainly young Moroccan migrants into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta drew attention to economic pressures.

The election matters because Morocco's prime minister is appointed by the king from the party that wins the most seats, and that party then forms a government for a five-year term. The monarch retains control over major policy decisions, so the result will shape the balance between elected officials and the palace. The campaign has been dominated by promises to improve living standards, while distrust of politicians has remained a recurring theme.

Observers have identified the National Rally of Independents, which leads the governing coalition, as one of the favourites, although opinion polls are banned under electoral law. Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch has led the party's campaign, even though he has stepped down as head of the RNI. He has defended the government's record, including expanded social security coverage, and said the party would do more if re-elected.

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The summer migration surge to Ceuta sharpened scrutiny of youth unemployment and the cost of living, even if it has not been the central campaign issue. It also briefly heightened tensions between Rabat and Madrid, adding a regional dimension to a domestic vote. Parties have nevertheless focused their messaging on economic improvement and quality of life rather than on the migration episode itself.

What remains unclear is the final turnout, especially among younger voters, and whether the governing coalition will retain its lead. The first official picture of the result is expected after polls close, but the shape of the next government will depend on seat totals and the king's appointment of the prime minister. The election outcome will also indicate how far economic concerns and public distrust have influenced the vote.

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