Moroccan Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch announced on Saturday he will not seek re-election as leader of his ruling National Rally of Independents party.
The decision effectively bars his return as prime minister should the party win parliamentary elections scheduled for late September.
Speaking at a rally in the coastal city of El Jadida, Akhannouch said the move was serious, deliberate, and carefully considered.
Under Morocco’s political tradition, King Mohammed VI appoints prime minister from the party that secures the most parliamentary seats.
Akhannouch has led the government since 2021, steering the country through post-pandemic recovery and fragile economic recalibration.
He has highlighted growth, expanded healthcare coverage, and increased support for low-income households as central achievements of his tenure.
Yet his leadership has faced growing pressure from youth-led protests demanding urgent reforms to education and public health systems.
The demonstrations, driven largely by Gen Z activists, erupted in September and echoed across cities with calls for his resignation.
Critics have also questioned alleged conflicts of interest linked to Akhannouch’s ownership of Afriquia, one of Morocco’s largest fuel networks.
Authorities later pledged additional funding for education and healthcare, as political winds shifted and public frustration sharpened.