Fouzi Lekjaa set to join political party weeks before Moroccan elections

Fouzi Lekjaa, Morocco’s powerful football chief and minister in charge of the budget, is poised to enter partisan politics by formally joining the Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM) ahead of the country’s upcoming legislative elections, according to Moroccan media reports.

The move would see one of Morocco’s most influential technocrats, who also heads the Royal Moroccan Football Federation, take on a prominent role in one of the kingdom’s main political parties just weeks before voters go to the polls.

Formal announcement expected at key party meeting

Citing party sources, Moroccan outlet le360 reported that Lekjaa’s membership is expected to be officially announced during a meeting of PAM’s National Council scheduled for next Saturday.

The development follows months of speculation in local media that Lekjaa was on the verge of aligning himself with PAM, a party that has been a significant player on Morocco’s political scene since its founding in 2008.

According to the report, Lekjaa will join PAM’s National Council, the party’s main internal assembly. Under the party’s statutes, his status as a sitting member of the government would then automatically qualify him for a place in the party’s Political Bureau, its top executive decision‐making body.

If confirmed, the move would instantly place Lekjaa in the heart of PAM’s leadership structure at a politically sensitive moment, with legislative elections on the horizon.

Questions over impact on football role

Le360 did not specify whether Lekjaa’s anticipated political responsibilities could affect his position as president of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (the Moroccan FA).

Lekjaa has led the federation through a period of heightened international visibility for Moroccan football, including on the African and global stage. His stewardship has coincided with major investment in infrastructure and a stronger presence in continental football governance.

However, his potential elevation within PAM raises questions about how he would balance a more overt partisan role with the demands of running both a key government portfolio and the country’s football administration.

Dual influence in government and sport

Lekjaa is widely regarded as one of the most prominent figures in Morocco’s current government. As the minister delegate in charge of the budget, he plays a central role in managing the country’s public finances and overseeing sensitive fiscal policy files.

At the same time, his presidency of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation gives him substantial influence over the kingdom’s most popular sport, further bolstering his visibility and clout.

This combination of financial, administrative and sporting authority has turned Lekjaa into a high‐profile public figure whose decisions resonate well beyond his formal job descriptions.

Strategic timing before legislative vote

The timing of Lekjaa’s expected accession to PAM’s top ranks, coming just weeks before the legislative elections, is likely to be watched closely by political observers in Morocco.

By bringing in a figure who commands respect in both governmental and sporting circles, PAM appears to be strengthening its leadership bench and broadening its appeal among voters who are familiar with Lekjaa through football as well as his role in government.

While neither PAM nor Lekjaa has publicly commented on the reported move, the anticipated announcement at the National Council meeting would mark a significant reshaping of the party’s upper echelons – and could have wider implications for the interplay between politics and sport in Morocco in the months ahead.