At a Friday press conference marking the conclusion of the nominations period, Interior Minister Chakib Benmoussa said a total of 1,870 local tickets from 33 competing political parties and 13 independent candidates had been submitted to the authorities, including 26 women-only national lists.

The elections are the first in Morocco since the parliament approved a law on political parties in October 2005, aimed at political reform and boosting transparency.

International observers led by the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs will monitor the elections, alongside the Consultative Council for Human Rights.