Vote counting begins in Morocco's parliamentary elections

Vote counting began across Morocco on Wednesday after polls closed in parliamentary elections that will determine the composition of the country's 395-seat House of Representatives.

Polling stations opened at 8 am GMT and closed at 7 pm, according to an Anadolu correspondent.

Morocco's Interior Ministry said voter turnout had reached 28.05% nationwide by 5 pm GMT, adding that voting took place under "normal conditions."

Final turnout in the previous parliamentary election, held on Sept. 8, 2021, was 50.18%.

A total of 3,206 observers, including 200 foreign monitors, oversaw Wednesday's vote.

Official figures show that 15,801,162 people were registered to vote. Twenty-eight political parties competed through 1,850 candidate lists comprising 7,288 candidates, including 2,658 women, for the 395 seats in the House of Representatives.

The Interior Ministry is expected to announce preliminary results in the early hours of Thursday.

Under Article 47 of Morocco's Constitution, the king appoints the head of government from the political party that finishes first in the House of Representatives election. Cabinet members are appointed by the king on the recommendation of the head of government.

A parliamentary majority requires at least 198 seats, making coalition talks likely if no party secures an outright majority.

The next government will face political, economic and social challenges, as well as major projects linked to Morocco's preparations to co-host the 2030 FIFA World Cup.

In the 2021 election, the National Rally of Independents (RNI) finished first with 102 seats, followed by the Authenticity and Modernity Party with 86 and the Istiqlal Party with 81.

The current government is headed by RNI leader Aziz Akhannouch in coalition with the Authenticity and Modernity Party and Istiqlal.