Morocco's largest political party is joining forces with three rivals to form a coalition government, pledging a "shared reformist vision" as it bids to address rising youth anger over economic inequality and corruption.
Prime Minister Fatima Ezzahra El-Mansouri's Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM) will enter government with the nationalist Istiqlal Party and two small left-wing factions, the Socialist Union of Popular Forces (USFP) and the Party of Progress and Socialism (PPS), the parties said in a joint statement on Monday.
PAM emerged as the kingdom's largest party following the 23 September election, winning 97 of the 395 seats in the lower house. Istiqlal came third with 65 seats.
King Mohammed VI appointed Mansouri as the country's first-ever female prime minister a week after the vote, tasking her to form the next government.
The coalition will have a narrow nine-seat majority in the assembly and will be expected to deliver on electoral pledges to tackle the rising cost of living, boost youth employment, and improve public services.
Her administration will take power amid rising social discontent over deteriorating public services and narrowing job prospects.
It will also oversee preparations for the World Cup, which the North African country will co-host with Spain and Portugal in 2030.
The tournament emerged as a flashpoint in the wave of anti-government demonstrations that rocked Moroccan cities last year, with Gen-Z protesters criticising the billions of dollars being invested in football stadiums at the expense of the country's underfunded healthcare and education systems.
September's election received one of the lowest turnout rates in the country's electoral history, with only 38% of voters turning up to vote. The low turnout means that PAM is forming the next government with the support of fewer than 5% of eligible voters.
PAM is a socially liberal party created in 2008 by an adviser to the king. This is the second time it has been in government after it entered a coalition as a junior partner of the National Rally of Independents and Istiqlal following the 2021 parliamentary election.