The election drew a turnout of 38 percent, marking the lowest level in almost two decades.
Morocco's centre-right Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM), which is part of the kingdom's ruling coalition, came out ahead in Wednesday's parliamentary election after winning 97 out of 395 seats, according to provisional results.
The election drew a turnout of 38 percent, marking the lowest level in almost two decades as the kingdom struggled with voter apathy.
Nearly 16 million people were registered to vote, with many voicing frustrations about unemployment ahead of the polls.
The National Rally of Independents (RNI) -- which heads the outgoing coalition -- came in second with 66 seats, followed by the right-wing Istiqlal party with 65 seats, while the Justice and Development Party took 54 seats, according to Interior Minister Abdelouafi Laftit.
Economic challenges
The election came less than two months after a mass migration crisis when tens of thousands of mainly young Moroccans rushed into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta.
Only about four percent of registered voters were aged 18 to 24.
Wednesday's turnout fell short of 2021's 50 percent, and was the lowest since 2007 when the figure was 36.8 percent.
In spite of the downbeat voter sentiment, the kingdom has posted economic growth and is ramping up major infrastructure projects as it prepares to co-host the 2030 World Cup alongside Spain and Portugal.
Morocco's prime minister is appointed by the king from the party that wins the most seats. The premier then forms a government for a five-year term, but the monarch retains control of major policy decisions.
‘Working for Morocco’
Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch led the RNI's campaign, although he has stepped down as head of the party.
Akhannouch has defended his government's record -- including expanding social security coverage -- and promised the RNI will do more if re-elected.
"We have done quite important work within the government," he said at a recent rally.
"We carried out reforms in education and health, we increased salaries... we were there when (Moroccans) needed us."
The PAM has also been hit by a corruption scandal. In June, a court sentenced two of its senior figures to 10 and 12 years in prison respectively in a major drug-trafficking case involving a kingpin dubbed the "Escobar of the Sahara".
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