Moroccan government unveils new bill to reform political party laws

The Moroccan government has unveiled Bill No. 54.25, drafted by the Ministry of the Interior, which proposes a revision of the organic law on political parties, in force since 2011. The document, obtained by Yabiladi, introduces several new measures, notably the requirement for new parties to include at least four women among their twelve founding members.

The bill further stipulates that «founding members must reside across all regions of the Kingdom, with representation of at least 5% of the total membership in each region. In addition, young people under 35 and women must constitute at least one-fifth of the members».

It also authorizes each party to create and wholly own a company to finance its activities and generate revenue. These companies may operate in sectors such as «communication and digital activities; the publication of party-affiliated newspapers; printing and publishing linked to political activities; and information or communication services aimed at political education». Failure to comply with these conditions could result in the company’s judicial dissolution at the request of the Ministry of the Interior.

The bill also addresses party financing, allowing political organizations to receive annual donations of up to 800,000 dirhams per donor and to benefit from income generated through investments in legally established companies.

The State will continue to subsidize political parties for their regular activities, congresses, conferences, and electoral campaigns. The Court of Auditors will remain responsible for overseeing the legality and transparency of their spending.

A notable addition to the text concerns Moroccans residing abroad (MREs). It specifies that «for regional electoral districts, at least one of the candidate lists supported by a party must be headed by a candidate residing outside the Kingdom, aged 35 or younger on the date of the election».

The bill is expected to be adopted before the end of 2025, in line with the guidelines set by King Mohammed VI in his speech on July 29.