IFES
 

Sept. 8, 2021 Held

Morocco
Kingdom of Morocco
Election for Majlis al-Nuwab (Moroccan Chamber of Representatives)


General Information

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]
 

[1] http://www.chambredesconseillers.ma/en/node/1330

[2] https://population.un.org/wpp/DataQuery/

[3] https://www.listeselectorales.ma/statistiques.aspx

[4] https://population.un.org/wpp/DataQuery/

[5] https://treaties.un.org/Pages/ViewDetails.aspx?src=TREATY&mtdsg_no=IV-8&chapter=4

[6] ibid

[7] https://english.aawsat.com/home/article/2486066/morocco-seeks-greater-participation-women-2021-elections

[8] http://hdr.undp.org/en/countries/profiles/MAR

[9] https://www.genderindex.org/wp-content/uploads/files/datasheets/2019/MA.pdf

[10] https://treaties.un.org/Pages/ViewDetails.aspx?src=TREATY&mtdsg_no=IV-15&chapter=4&clang=_en

[11] ibid

[12] http://electionaccess.org/en/resources/countries/?q=morocco#tab

Election Modified: Jun 21, 2024

Most Recent Elections in Morocco

With Participation Rates