Morocco Votes for New Parliament After Youth Protests and Ceuta Migrant Surge

Moroccan voters went to the polls on Wednesday morning to elect a new parliament, in the country's first legislative vote since deadly youth-led protests nearly a year ago and a mass attempt by migrants to cross the northern border into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta.

Nearly 16 million registered voters are eligible to cast ballots for the 395-seat House of Representatives. They are choosing from among 7,288 candidates fielded by 27 political parties. Results are expected on Thursday.

The campaign has unfolded against a backdrop of mounting frustration among young people, high unemployment, and public demands for better schools, hospitals and housing. In Rabat, voters arrived slowly at polling stations, and opinions appeared muted, reflecting doubts among many young Moroccans that political participation can improve their daily lives.

That discontent has surfaced repeatedly over the past year, notably in the deadly Gen Z-led protests and in the Ceuta crisis last July, when tens of thousands of people tried to reach the Spanish territory.

Under Morocco's constitution, the king appoints the head of government from the party that wins the most seats. No single party is expected to secure an absolute majority, meaning the largest winner will need to negotiate with others to build a governing coalition.

The incoming administration will oversee billions of dollars in infrastructure investment as Morocco prepares to co-host the 2030 FIFA World Cup, a task that has led some to describe it as the "World Cup government." It will also face pressure to create jobs and to convince young citizens that the country's rapid economic development can translate into better lives.