Morocco is a constitutional monarchy — a political system in which ultimate authority rests with a hereditary monarch (the King) while day-to-day governance operates through elected democratic institutions. The 2011 Constitution, adopted in response to the Arab Spring protests, significantly expanded the powers of the elected parliament and head of government while retaining the King’s central role in political life, foreign policy, security, and religious affairs.
This hybrid model — sometimes described as a ‘monarchy with democratic characteristics’ — has given Morocco a degree of political stability and continuity that many of its neighbours lack, while gradually expanding space for political participation, civil society, and press freedom.
The Constitutional System
The Monarchy — King Mohammed VI
King Mohammed VI (محمد السادس) has reigned since July 1999, when he succeeded his father, the long-serving King Hassan II (who ruled from 1961–1999). Born in 1963, Mohammed VI is the 18th king of the Alaouite dynasty, which has ruled Morocco continuously since 1666 — one of the world’s longest-ruling royal families.
The King holds several constitutionally defined roles that give him supreme authority across multiple domains:
- Commander of the Faithful (Amir al-Muminin) — Religious leader of Morocco’s Muslim community, with authority over Islamic affairs and the appointment of religious judges
- Head of State — Represents Morocco in international affairs; appoints and dismisses the Head of Government and ministers
- Commander-in-Chief — Supreme authority over the Royal Armed Forces
- Presides over the Council of Ministers — Chairs major cabinet sessions on strategic national issues
- Final arbiter — Has the constitutional power to dissolve parliament and call new elections
The Parliament
Morocco’s parliament is bicameral (two-chamber):
The House of Representatives (Majlis al-Nuwab) is the lower house, with 395 elected members serving 5-year terms by proportional representation. The lower house holds primary legislative authority and confirms or brings down the government. The House of Councillors (Majlis al-Mustasharin) is the upper house, with 120 members elected by local and regional councils, trade unions, and professional organisations, serving 6-year terms.
The Head of Government
Since the 2011 constitutional reform, the Head of Government (formerly called Prime Minister) must be drawn from the party that wins the most seats in parliamentary elections. The current Head of Government is Aziz Akhannouch, leader of the National Rally of Independents (RNI), who came to power following the September 2021 elections in which the RNI won 102 of 395 seats — the largest share — in a coalition with the Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM) and the Istiqlal Party.
Major Political Parties
| RNI – National Rally of Independents | Centre-right; business-friendly; won 2021 elections; Akhannouch leads |
| PAM – Authenticity & Modernity Party | Centre; founded 2008; modernising, urban base; coalition partner |
| Istiqlal Party | Centre-right; nationalist; Morocco’s oldest party (1944); coalition partner |
| PJD – Justice & Development Party | Conservative Islamist; won 2011 & 2016 elections; lost heavily in 2021 |
| USFP – Socialist Union | Centre-left; historic opposition party; diminished since 2000s |
| MP – Popular Movement | Centrist; Amazigh/Berber representation focus |
The 2011 Constitutional Reform
The 2011 Arab Spring prompted large but largely peaceful protests across Morocco under the banner of the February 20th Movement, calling for greater democracy, anti-corruption measures, and constitutional reform. King Mohammed VI responded swiftly with a major constitutional reform package, approved by referendum in July 2011 with over 98% support (though turnout and the process were questioned by some civil society groups).
Key changes included: making the Head of Government the leader of the largest parliamentary party (rather than royal appointment); strengthening the independence of the judiciary; officially recognising Tamazight (Berber) as a co-official language alongside Arabic; expanding guarantees for press freedom and civil liberties; and strengthening regional governance through an advanced decentralisation model.
Morocco’s 2011 constitutional reform was widely cited as one of the most substantial political responses to the Arab Spring by any Arab monarchy, and helped Morocco avoid the political instability that engulfed Tunisia, Egypt, Libya, Syria, and Yemen.
Foreign Policy
Morocco–Europe Relations
The European Union is Morocco’s largest trading partner and primary investor, accounting for approximately 55% of Morocco’s total trade. Morocco holds ‘Advanced Status’ with the EU (granted in 2008), giving it a privileged partnership just short of candidate membership. This includes a Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement (DCFTA) under negotiation, extensive Horizon Europe research cooperation, and the EU’s largest neighbourhood aid programme in North Africa.
Morocco also maintains special relationships with France (its former colonial power and largest bilateral partner) and Spain (with which it shares maritime borders and the contentious issues of Ceuta, Melilla, and migration flows through the Strait of Gibraltar).
Morocco–USA Relations
Morocco and the United States have maintained strategic relations since 1777, when Morocco became the first country to formally recognise American independence. Today, Morocco is a Major Non-NATO Ally (MNNA) — a designation conferring significant military cooperation benefits. The two countries have a bilateral Free Trade Agreement (in force since 2006) and conduct annual joint military exercises (African Lion). In December 2020, the USA recognised Morocco’s sovereignty over Western Sahara in exchange for Morocco normalising relations with Israel under the Abraham Accords.
Morocco–Africa Relations
After 33 years of self-imposed absence, Morocco rejoined the African Union in January 2017 — a strategic pivot reflecting a new commitment to pan-African engagement. Since then, Morocco has become the continent’s second-largest investor after South Africa, with Moroccan banks, telecom companies, and insurers operating across 25+ African countries. The planned 5,600 km Morocco–Nigeria gas pipeline would be the world’s longest offshore pipeline and would connect West African gas fields to European markets via Morocco.
Western Sahara — The Defining Foreign Policy Issue
The status of Western Sahara — a former Spanish colony that Morocco occupied in 1975 — remains Morocco’s most sensitive and defining geopolitical issue. Morocco proposes an Autonomy Plan granting the territory broad self-governance under Moroccan sovereignty. The Polisario Front (backed by Algeria) demands a referendum on full independence. The USA (2020), France (2024), Spain (2022), and several dozen countries now support or accept Morocco’s autonomy framework. The UN peacekeeping mission MINURSO continues to monitor the ceasefire line.
Key Policy Priorities (2024–2030)
- 2030 FIFA World Cup hosting — largest infrastructure investment programme in Morocco’s history
- Génération Green 2020–2030 — agricultural modernisation and rural development
- Digital Morocco 2030 — e-government, tech sector development, digital inclusion
- Green Hydrogen Strategy — positioning Morocco as Europe’s primary green energy supplier
- Africa Atlantic Gas Pipeline — transformative regional infrastructure with Nigeria
- National Security Digitalisation — investment in cyber-defence and intelligence capacity
