Morocco Parliamentary Elections 2021

Country Name: Kingdom of Morocco

At stake in this election:

• 395 seats in the Moroccan Chamber of Representatives

Description of government structure:

• Chief of State: King MOHAMED VI
• Head of Government: Prime Minister Saad Eddine El OTHMANI
• Assembly: Morocco has a bicameral Parliament (Barlaman) consisting of the Chamber of Counselors (Majlis al-Mustacharin) with 120 seats and the Chamber of Representatives (Majlis al-Nuwab) with 395 seats.

Description of electoral system:

• The King is the hereditary head of state.
• The Prime Minister is appointed by the monarch. The monarch is required to choose the prime minister from the largest party in parliament.
• In the Chamber of Counselors (Majlis al-Mustacharin) 120 members are elected by indirect vote to serve 6-year terms. Three-fifths of members represent local authorities, and the remaining members are elected by electoral colleges composed of elected representatives of professional chambers and professional organizations to represent employees*
• In the Chamber of Representatives (Majlis al-Nuwab), 395 members are elected by direct suffrage through a list system vote to serve 5-year terms.
  • 305 members are elected in 92 multi-seat constituencies. The remaining seats are elected through a national list, with 60 seats being reserved for women, and 30 seats reserved for men under the age of 40.

*Size of Chamber of Counselors decreased after the new constitution of Morocco was enacted in 2011[1]

Last Election:

• The last elections for the Chamber of Representatives were held on 7 October 2016.

Main candidates in this election:

• Party: Justice and Development Party / حزب العدالة والتنمية‎
  • Leader: Saadeddine OTHMANI
  • Seats won in last election: 125
• Party: Authenticity and Modernity Party / حزب الأصالة والمعاصرة
  • Leader: Abdellatif OUAHBI
  • Seats won in last election: 102
• Party Istiqlal Party / حزب الإستقلال
  • Leader: Nizar BARAKA
  • Seats won in last election: 46
• Party: National Rally of Independents / التجمع الوطني للأحرار‎
  • Leader: Aziz AKHANNOUCH
  • Seats won in last election: 37
• Party: Popular Movement / الحركة الشعبية
  • Leader: Mohand LAENSER
  • Seats won in last election: 27
• Party: Socialist Union of Popular Forces / الاتحاد الاشتراكي للقوات الشعبية‎
  • Leader: Driss LACHGAR
  • Seats won in last election: 20

Population and number of registered voters:

• Population: 37,345,871 (est. 2021)[2]
• Registered Voters: 17,983,490 (46% women; 54% men) (2021)[3]

Gender Data:

• Female Population: 18,804,401 (est. 2021)[4]
• Is Morocco a signatory to CEDAW: No[5]
• Has Morocco ratified CEDAW:  21 June 1993[6]
• Gender Quota: Yes, legislated quotas for the single/lower house and at the sub-national level; 60 seats reserved in the lower house and 15 additional seats as part of the youth list that comprises 30 persons[7]
• Female candidates in this election: 2,329 candidates (out of 6,833 total candidates)
• Human Development Index Position: 121[8]
• Social Institutions and Gender Index (SIGI) Categorization: Very high[9]

Disability Data:

• Is Morocco a signatory to CRPD: 30 Mar 2007[10]
• Has Morocco ratified CRPD: 8 Apr 2009[11]
• Population with a disability: 4,998,405[12]