Morocco’s PJD seeks revival after 2021 electoral collapse

Morocco’s Justice and Development Party (PJD) is working to recover from its dramatic electoral defeat in 2021, when its representation in parliament fell from 125 seats to 13.

The party is rebuilding under Abdelilah Benkirane, whose long political career, public visibility and direct communication style have helped create a strong personal profile. An analysis cited by the source examines whether that profile can generate renewed support for the PJD.

Internal reorganisation

The PJD says it has reorganised its internal affairs, renewed its structures and reviewed its years in government. Saad al-Sabahi attributed the party’s recovery from its crisis to its extraordinary and regular congresses, Benkirane’s return as secretary-general and internal efforts to improve communication and organisation.

“The party was able to overcome its crisis following its extraordinary and regular congresses, and after Secretary-General Abdelilah Benkirane took over the leadership,” al-Sabahi said. He added that the party had renewed its structures through internal communication.

The party’s assessment of its 2021 defeat criticises its political and organisational decisions. It also accuses unnamed actors of undermining democratic choice, electoral corruption and disinformation. Those allegations are presented as the PJD’s claims and have not been independently established in the source.

Yacine Laachiri said the party must acknowledge that it can make mistakes and conduct a critical review of its political and organisational choices.

Programme built around 467 measures

The PJD’s 2026 programme contains 467 measures across five broad areas: identity and family; political and institutional reform; public services and social protection; the economy and employment; and foreign policy.

The proposals include greater transparency in public procurement, rules concerning conflicts of interest and illicit enrichment, and improvements in public services, housing and social protection. The programme also addresses food, water and energy sovereignty.

Al-Sabahi said the programme was developed through studies, consultation meetings and proposals submitted through an online platform. He described the commitments as an agreement between the party and voters.

“These commitments, among others, form the basis of the agreement between the party and voters. We will work to fulfil and implement them with integrity and competence,” he said.

Focus on younger Moroccans

The party is also seeking to expand young people’s participation in political life and establish a lasting relationship with younger Moroccans.

Imane Traifi of PJD Youth said young people should move beyond being recipients of political messages and become participants, initiators and people who take responsibility. She said trust could not be built through election-time mobilisation alone, but required sustained engagement, training and opportunities to take part in public affairs.

“Our goal is not simply to reach young people at the moment of an election, but to build a lasting relationship with them based on trust, training and active participation,” Traifi said.

Questions over policy limits

The PJD’s recovery effort is taking place within Morocco’s existing constitutional system. The party has said it seeks change from within that system rather than challenging the monarchy, and Benkirane has reaffirmed his support for the monarchy.

Morocco’s constitutional framework gives the monarchy a central role in strategic state decisions. The king chairs the Council of Ministers, where strategic orientations of state policy are considered. That structure raises questions about how much of the PJD’s programme a future government could implement.

The party also continues to oppose Morocco’s normalisation with Israel and supports the Palestinian cause. Morocco restored diplomatic ties with Israel in December 2020 while the PJD was in government. On September 16, Morocco and Israel agreed to raise their diplomatic missions to embassy level, appoint ambassadors, expand air travel and advance economic and trade agreements.

Whether Benkirane’s political profile can translate into wider support remains uncertain. The source provides no polling data or projected election results, and it does not establish that the PJD has fully recovered from the loss of 112 parliamentary seats between 2016 and 2021.