Rabat — Morocco’s Party of Progress and Socialism (PPS) may be entering a period of internal upheaval, as reports suggest its longtime leader, Nabil Benabdellah, has stepped down from the party’s helm just days after a bruising result at the ballot box.
The PPS captured only 19 seats in Morocco’s September 23 legislative elections, landing in sixth place nationally, a result Benabdellah himself described as « disappointing. » The outcome stands in sharp contrast to the offensive tone he struck weeks earlier, when he vowed a more combative PPS heading into the vote.
News of the resignation has not been officially confirmed by the party. It surfaced primarily through a social media post from a political analyst, who wrote that Benabdellah had tendered his resignation « following his party’s election results. » Neither the PPS leadership nor Benabdellah himself has commented publicly on the claim as of this writing.
Still, the reports point to visible strain inside the left-leaning formation. A setback of this scale inevitably reopens questions about leadership and strategic direction, particularly at a moment when Morocco’s political landscape is being reshaped in the aftermath of the September 23 vote.
Nationally, the Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM) emerged as the biggest winner of the legislative elections, putting King Mohammed VI in position to name Morocco’s next head of government, with Fatima Zahra Mansouri and Fawzi Lekjaa both mentioned as leading contenders in recent days. Against that backdrop of shifting alliances, every party, regardless of its seat count, is being forced to reassess its footing on the national stage.
Tracing its roots to the former Moroccan Communist Party, the PPS has long positioned itself as a moderate left-wing force and has taken part in several successive government coalitions over the decades. Should Benabdellah’s departure be confirmed, it would mark a symbolically significant turning point for one of Morocco’s most historic parties, coming just weeks before the country’s new government is expected to take shape.
Sefrou Press will continue to follow this story and update readers as soon as the PPS issues an official response.
