Morocco: Tangier Mayor Held in Electoral Fraud Investigation

TANGIER, Morocco — Moroccan authorities have placed Tangier Mayor Mounir Limouri in police custody as part of an investigation into suspected electoral fraud following the country’s parliamentary elections.

A judicial source told AFP on Monday that Limouri was detained on the orders of the public prosecutor’s office. Five other people, including two officials responsible for overseeing polling stations in Tangier, have also been placed in pre-trial detention over allegations linked to electoral irregularities.

Limouri, a member of Morocco’s Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM), was reportedly detained after arriving at Tangier airport from Spain. Local media reported that authorities had issued a warrant in connection with an investigation into alleged ballot manipulation.

The investigation follows reports of irregularities during Morocco’s September 23 parliamentary elections. Moroccan authorities have said a broader investigation into suspected electoral violations in Tangier is continuing. Reports have focused on alleged irregular ballot documents found at polling stations in the city.

Limouri had previously denied having any involvement in the case. In comments reported by Le360, he said he had no connection to the incident and rejected suggestions that his trip to Spain was an attempt to evade investigators.

PAM Leads Morocco's Parliamentary Vote

The investigation comes days after the PAM emerged as the largest party in Morocco's parliamentary election.

Official results confirmed that PAM won 97 of the 395 seats in the House of Representatives. The National Rally of Independents (RNI) won 66 seats, followed by Istiqlal with 65 and the Justice and Development Party (PJD) with 54.

Voter participation was 38.08%, down considerably from 50.86% in 2021, according to Morocco's Interior Ministry.

Because PAM did not secure a parliamentary majority, the formation of the next government will require coalition negotiations.

Among the figures being discussed for the next prime minister is PAM member Fouzi Lekjaa, Morocco's budget minister and president of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation. Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri, PAM's national coordinator and mayor of Marrakesh, has also been identified as a potential candidate and could become Morocco's first woman prime minister if appointed.

The electoral-fraud investigation remains ongoing, and the allegations against Limouri and the other suspects have not been established as criminal wrongdoing by a court.