Why Is Fouzi Lekjaa Being Pushed for Membership in the Authenticity and Modernity Party?

The Moroccan political and media scene is abuzz with anticipation and debate regarding the state's support for one of its own to succeed Aziz Akhannouch as head of the next government.

As Morocco gears up for the September 23, 2026, parliamentary elections, the name of Fouzi Lekjaa has emerged as a top candidate for the next head of government.

Lekjaa enjoys considerable popularity in Morocco, both as president of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation, where he achieved unprecedented sporting successes for the country, and as the Minister of Budget in the current government.

Fouzi Lekjaa's potential appointment as Prime Minister necessitates his candidacy within a political party, as the constitution stipulates that the Prime Minister must be from the leading party. This has led to speculation about the Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM), founded in 2008 by Fouad Ali El Himma, a friend and advisor to King Mohammed VI.

Careful Calculations

Fatima Zahra Mansouri, coordinator of the PAM's collective leadership, confirmed that communication channels with Lekjaa have remained open for over a year, as part of the party's ongoing consultations and political outreach to a number of national figures.

In a press statement in June 2026, she explained that Lekjaa possesses strong qualities, competence, and managerial acumen, noting that he has accumulated significant experience that has earned him widespread respect in various fields, both institutional and sporting.

Mansouri pointed out that Lekjaa remains close to the PAM in terms of ideological orientation, given his adoption of a modernist ideology. 

She added that the party remains open to attracting qualified individuals capable of contributing to political and developmental work.

In this context, journalist Yassine Hassnaoui emphasized that there is no vacuum in Moroccan politics. 

He stated that influential figures do not operate outside of precise and complex calculations, and that the name of Fouzi Lekjaa is one such figure.

In an editorial published on the local website Zone24 on June 8, 2026, Hassnaoui stressed that Lekjaa has generated much controversy and speculation, especially since he is not an ordinary official. 

"In recent years, Lekjaa has become one of the most prominent and influential figures within the state apparatus," he said.

He noted that what is happening behind the scenes suggests that the rapprochement between the PAM and Lekjaa has not ceased, and that the latter's entry into the party seems closer than ever.

Hassnaoui explained that the party sees Lekjaa as a valuable asset capable of strengthening its political and organizational presence, while the minister may find himself within a political sphere that provides him with party affiliation commensurate with his influence within state institutions.

"With the approach of the upcoming legislative elections, it seems that the parties have already begun to outline the features of the next phase, whether by attracting influential figures or by rearranging internal balances," he added.

The writer believes that the 2026 government is not only being formed within official institutions, but its outlines are beginning to take shape now, within the parties, behind the scenes, and through alliances being forged away from the public eye.

Complex Context

For his part, Othman Bentaleb, director general of Anbaa Express, believes that Lekjaa is one of the most prominent officials involved in the state's strategic files, whether in the financial or sports sectors, which has made him the subject of much analysis and speculation.

In an editorial on his website on June 9, 2026, Bentaleb stated that "Lekjaa has succeeded in building the image of a technocratic official who works behind the scenes, yet is strongly present in major issues."

He continued, "As Minister Delegate in charge of the Budget, he oversees one of the most important sectors related to the state's financial stability. He has also accumulated extensive experience in managing financial and economic affairs, making him one of the Kingdom's most prominent administrative talents."

He added, "At the sporting level, his name is associated with the significant transformation Moroccan football has undergone in the last decade, within the framework of the royal vision for developing the sports sector, starting with the development of sports infrastructure, continuing with the outstanding results of the national teams."

"Culminating in the historic achievement of the Moroccan national team in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, in addition to his contribution to winning the bid to co-host the 2030 World Cup," he said.

However, Bentaleb ruled out the scenario of Lekjaa becoming head of government, citing constitutional considerations, given that the man is not currently affiliated with any political party. 

"Certainly, the current phase doesn't leave much room for political calculations. Morocco is facing major international sporting events that require the full mobilization of all energies and expertise," he added.

The journalist believed that "Lekjaa continues to play the role of a statesman entrusted with major strategic files, files that have not yet reached their final stage, whether on the financial or sporting level."

"Therefore, the question today is not whether he will join a party or run in future elections, but rather the extent of his success in completing the major national projects entrusted to him, foremost among them the success of the international sporting events that Morocco will be hosting in the coming years," he noted.

Lekjaa's Response

Faced with the increasing reactions to this issue, Lekjaa, in response to a question about the possibility of him becoming Prime Minister in the future, said: "Only God Almighty knows the future," adding: "I have no knowledge of the matter."

Lekjaa's response came during his appearance as a guest on the Maghreb podcast, which aired on Al Jazeera 360 on June 14, 2026.

Prior to this brief response, Lekjaa had previously denied to the local news website Medias24 on June 9, 2026, recent rumors regarding his joining the PAM or running in the upcoming parliamentary elections under its banner, emphasizing that he does not currently belong to any political party.

He stated that "he is not a candidate for the parliamentary elections on the PAM's lists, nor is he a member of the party, nor is he a member of any political party."

"If I decide tomorrow to exercise my constitutional right to join this party or that, or to run in the parliamentary elections, or to join any party, I will announce it myself," he said.

Commenting on this latest statement, journalist Younes Masskine asserted that the man's denial of joining the Authenticity and Modernity Party or running under its banner is of little consequence at this moment, because the denial included the word 'currently', but it does not extend to the future.

In an editorial on the Sawt Al Maghrib website on June 10, 2026, he noted that "politics in Morocco does not reveal its secrets through official statements. Rather, it often begins with rumors, then a newspaper headline, then a half-baked statement, then a calculated denial, then the same name reappears in another form, until we finally discover that what was once impossible has become reality."

He emphasized that the deeper question is why the name of a high-ranking official, a minister delegate, the head of the football federation, a budget expert, and a FIFA, CAF, and World Cup figure has suddenly emerged as a potential candidate to salvage the position of Prime Minister from its political demise?

He saw that Lekjaa's candidacy may have come in the context of elections with no real stakes, and parties without a political leader capable of convincing people that the ballot boxes will produce anything more than a mere distribution of seats. 

Masskine pointed out that “Lekjaa’s problem is that the head of government is not a technical position, but rather the head of an executive authority emanating from the ballot box, carrying a political mandate, leading a majority, answering to Parliament, and being accountable to the citizens.”

Political Perspective

In her analysis of the event, Amina Maa El Ainin, a member of the General Secretariat of the Justice and Development Party (PJD), said: “Lekjaa has performed well on the football level, achieving significant results and accomplishments that have created a positive image for the country on the continental and international stage. However, on the political level, we don’t know him; we don’t know his ideas or political positions.”

Maa El Ainin expressed to Al-Estiklal her rejection of bringing Lekjaa to the head of government in this manner, stressing that "it is unacceptable to sit on the eve of elections and say that the parties are ineffective and incapable of presenting us with someone who can build a positive public opinion around him, and that Lekjaa is the solution."

She pointed out that "Lekjaa has been involved in managing public affairs for years, and the idea of ​​him being eligible to head the government was never on the table. Therefore, it has been raised now, after the parties have been weakened or portrayed as failed and weak institutions."

The former member of parliament believes that "there is no indication on the horizon of a review of the methodology that has destroyed the parties and weakened their ability to organize and engage in political action."

Maa El Ainin warned that those behind the idea of ​​nominating Lekjaa are thinking in an undemocratic way; they deliberately marginalize the parties and then bring in whomever they want for specific positions, presenting them under a party guise that superficially resembles respecting constitutional requirements.

She emphasized that this logic creates a major problem for party elites because it is inherently demeaning, stressing that political parties are capable of producing leaders and competent individuals, but they must be allowed to operate freely and democratically.

She believed that what is happening, if implemented, will empty the constitution of its substance, because Article 47 of the 2011 constitution stipulates that the head of government be appointed from the party that wins the legislative elections.

“We cannot all, as a state and a society, conspire to insult the constitution by preserving it in form while undermining its essence and substance,” she added.

She pointed out that “the constitutional document was not drafted arbitrarily; rather, it embodies the meaning of democracy. The King’s appointment of someone from the leading party logically means that the appointee represents the party, not someone from outside it.”

She explained that “building party leadership is not easy; it requires accumulation, diligence, and time. This means that bringing someone in at the last minute to any party organization to be head of government is completely unacceptable.”

Therefore, she believed that “the direct appointment of the head of government by the King is better than colluding to insult the constitution, because the constitution speaks of appointing a person from the first party, and people like Lekjaa are from the administration or from other entities, and imposing them on political life empties it of meaning.”