Tangier Mayor Mounir Limouri has been placed in police custody as part of an investigation into suspected electoral fraud during Morocco’s September 23 parliamentary election, a judicial source told AFP. Five other people, including two officials responsible for polling stations in Tangier, have also been held in pre-trial detention over alleged electoral violations. Moroccan authorities launched a broader investigation following reports of irregularities in the northern city.
Limouri, a member of the Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM), was reportedly detained after returning from Spain. He has denied involvement in the alleged ballot tampering. The investigation comes after a low-turnout parliamentary election in which PAM won 97 of the 395 seats in the House of Representatives. The National Rally of Independents (RNI) secured 66 seats, while Istiqlal won 65 and the Justice and Development Party (PJD) took 54. Turnout was about 38%, the lowest since 2007.
The electoral allegations have added scrutiny to a vote already marked by concerns over political participation. Moroccan authorities have said investigations into reported violations are continuing. The election has also brought a change at the top of government. On Tuesday, King Mohammed VI appointed Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri, the PAM leader and former mayor of Marrakesh, as Morocco’s first woman prime minister and tasked her with forming a new government. The new government will face the task of addressing economic and youth-related concerns while overseeing preparations for Morocco’s co-hosting of the 2030 FIFA World Cup with Spain and Portugal.
