As part of its preparations for the legislative elections, the Istiqlal Party has released its first slate of 70 candidates. This initial list includes Nizar Baraka, the party’s Secretary-General and Minister of Equipment and Water, who will run in Larache.
According to a statement from the party’s Executive Committee, the list features three current ministers and one secretary of state: Nizar Baraka, Ryad Mezzour, Abdessamad Kayouh, and Omar Hejira. Notably, only one female lead candidate, Madiha Khayr, is included, contesting the seat in Beni Mellal.
Ryad Mezzour will run in Benslimane, Abdessamad Kayouh in Taroudant South, and Omar Hejira in Oujda.
The first list also includes several former lawmakers seeking re-election, such as outgoing MPs Allal Amraoui (Fez) and Abdelilah Bouzidi (Rabat-Océan), as well as former parliamentary adviser Rahal Mekkaoui.
Former minister Bouamar Taghouan is also among the initial candidates.
However, candidates for the southern regions of Laayoune and Dakhla have yet to be announced. Informed sources suggest these nominations are expected to go to the Ouled Errachid and Yanja Khatri families. Similarly, no candidate has been selected for Nador in northern Morocco, for reasons that remain unclear.
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Commenting on this first wave of nominations, the Executive Committee stated that the selection process was guided by the party’s Ethics and Conduct Commission. This commission reviewed applications to ensure candidates met the required ethical, legal, and organizational standards, in accordance with the party’s statutes.
The statement emphasized that this rigorous process aims to ensure Istiqlal candidates are recognized for their " morality, integrity, honor, probity, competence, and their ability to fulfill their representative mandate and serve the public interest. "
With this initial list, Istiqlal has officially entered the election campaign, presenting a diverse mix of ministers, outgoing MPs, former officials, and regional figures. The party also indicated that nominations for several key constituencies, including those in the southern provinces and Nador, are still pending.
