Moroccan Parties Gear Up for Tangier’s Legislative Seats Despite Coalition Truce

In Tangier, political parties are already active for the next legislative elections. After the observations made on the performance of the current representatives, they are reflecting on the profiles and personalities they will propose for one of the parliamentary seats. On the side of the National Rally of Independents (RNI), Hespress learns that discussions are underway on a possible return of the billionaire and experienced politician, Youssef Benjelloun, to the party for the next elections. His possible return would be on the agenda of a meeting between the defector and senior party officials of the party led by Aziz Akhannouch in Rabat. He had held responsibilities within the same party before leaving it to join successively the Party of Justice and Development (PJD) then the Socialist Union of Popular Forces (USFP).

For its part, the Istiqlal Party, led by its Secretary General Nizar Baraka, is considering excluding its current deputy, Mohamed Lhamami, who had obtained a seat for the party in the 2021 elections, from the race for the next legislative elections. This political party plans to present Abdeljabbar Rachidi, Secretary of State for Social Integration, as a candidate in this complex electoral district. A scenario rejected by some internal sources of the party. They believe that another candidate could be designated, while the chances of renewing the current president of the Bni Makada district, under the emblem of the "Balance", for a second consecutive term are slim.

The PAM is also already thinking about the next legislative elections. The party is looking to recruit a new personality, outside the currently known figures, to invest. It has contacted new profiles or former members who left the party in the previous elections in order to present them as candidates. But the task will not be easy. The party must first resolve internal problems. While its leadership is strongly determined to win the elections, the persistent conflict throughout the current term between the deputy Adil Dfouf and the mayor of the city, Mounir Lymouri, could intensify as the elections approach. According to circles close to the mayor, Lymouri enjoys the support of the PAM leadership. This atmosphere could have a negative impact on the party’s organization in the "Pearl of the North".