PJD: rise, collapse and return
From 107 seats to 125, then 13, then 54: making sense of the most volatile electoral path in Moroccan history.
From 107 seats to 125, then 13, then 54: making sense of the most volatile electoral path in Moroccan history.
The rise (2011–2016) Amid the 2011 protests the party won with 107 seats and 22.78% of the vote , then improved to 125 seats in 2016 despite five years at the head of government — a rare case of a governing party strengthening its position.
The break (2017–2021) The "blockage" ended with Benkirane’s dismissal and Othmani forming a six-party government on terms the party had previously rejected . In 2021 the party lost 112 seats and fell to 13 ; the vote took place under an electoral quotient based on registered voters that the party opposed, but the scale of the loss goes beyond the effect of the rules alone .
The return (2021–2026) The party brought Abdelilah Benkirane back as Secretary-General and won 54 seats in 2026 . The comeback suggests that part of its base voted to punish it or abstained in 2021, then returned in 2026 as the ruling party declined .
Sources
- Morocco's elections: Fragmentation, disengagement and PJD's major comeback · Al Jazeera · 2026-09-28
- 2011 Moroccan parliamentary election · Wikipedia · 2026-09-28
- 2016 Moroccan general election · Wikipedia · 2026-09-28
- 2021 Moroccan general election · Wikipedia · 2026-09-28
- Justice and Development Party (Morocco) · Wikipedia · 2026-09-28