The Party of Authenticity and Modernity (PAM) has formally nominated its candidates for all 16 districts of Casablanca-Settat ahead of Morocco’s 2026 legislative elections, a move that comes as the ruling coalition faces growing internal divisions and public skepticism over its stability.
According to local media reports, PAM’s candidate selection—announced in a closed-door meeting—marks the first official step in what analysts describe as a high-stakes political maneuver. The party’s leadership has framed the process as a call for voters to focus on policy platforms rather than personality-driven campaigns, amid rising concerns about infighting within the ruling coalition.
Why This Matters for Morocco’s Political Landscape
The PAM nominations arrive as the ruling Justice and Development Party (PJD) and its allies grapple with internal fractures, including a recent high-profile split in Rabat where the mayor and her team severed ties with the National Rally of Independents (RNI). That breakaway, reported by Jeune Afrique, reshuffled local power dynamics just three months before the vote, raising questions about whether Casablanca-Settat—Morocco’s most populous region—could become a battleground for shifting alliances.
PAM’s strategy contrasts sharply with the RNI’s approach, which has been criticized for prioritizing patronage over programmatic governance. In a statement, PAM’s secretary-general warned against “rumormongering” that could undermine the electoral process, a nod to the party’s efforts to distance itself from the RNI’s perceived instability. Meanwhile, opposition figures have seized on the moment, with Le360 quoting political observers who describe PAM’s move as a bid to reclaim voter trust in the face of what they call a “transhumance”—a term borrowed from pastoral traditions to describe the fluid, often opportunistic, nature of Morocco’s ruling elite.
Key Details: Candidates, Timelines, and Stakes
- 16 districts: PAM has selected candidates for every constituency in Casablanca-Settat, Morocco’s largest electoral region.
- 2026 elections: The nominations come ahead of legislative polls scheduled for next year, though no official date has been set.
- Internal divisions: The ruling coalition’s unity is under strain after the RNI mayor of Rabat and her team defected, a move that Jeune Afrique called a “rearrangement of the deck chairs” ahead of the vote.
- PAM’s stance: The party has urged voters to prioritize policy over personality, framing its campaign as a rejection of the RNI’s perceived focus on clientelism.
How the Opposition Is Reacting
While PAM’s leadership emphasizes unity, the party’s push for programmatic politics has drawn mixed reactions. Some analysts, cited by Hespress Français, argue that PAM’s candidate slate—drawn from a mix of technocrats and long-standing party figures—could appeal to younger voters disillusioned with traditional party politics. However, others warn that the party risks being overshadowed by the RNI’s aggressive campaign tactics, which have included viral slogans like “PAM! PAM!”—a reference to the party’s name that some critics dismiss as empty branding.
On the ground, the stakes are high. Casablanca-Settat’s urban centers, including Casablanca itself, are economic powerhouses where voter turnout often decides national outcomes. If PAM’s candidates fail to resonate, the region could become a litmus test for whether Morocco’s political class can break free from the cycles of infighting that have dominated recent years.
What Happens Next
With PAM’s candidates now in place, the focus will shift to campaign strategies. The party has signaled it will avoid the RNI’s reliance on populist rhetoric, instead highlighting its proposed reforms in education and economic policy. However, the clock is ticking: the RNI’s defection in Rabat and PAM’s own internal debates suggest that the coalition’s ability to present a united front remains uncertain.
One thing is clear: the 2026 elections in Casablanca-Settat will be watched closely not just for their political outcomes, but as a barometer for whether Morocco’s ruling elite can deliver stability—or if voters will demand something entirely different.
