Fouzi Lekjaa, one of Morocco’s most powerful sports and government figures, is poised to formally join the Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM) just weeks before crucial parliamentary elections, according to Moroccan media reports.
Senior minister and football chief to enter party hierarchy
Lekjaa, the Minister Delegate in charge of the Budget and president of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF), is expected to be unveiled as a new PAM member at the party’s National Council meeting next Saturday, Moroccan outlet le360 reported.
The move would mark a significant new chapter in Lekjaa’s political career, shifting him from a technocratic and sporting role into the heart of partisan politics at a sensitive pre‐election moment.
According to the report, Lekjaa’s entry into the National Council will automatically open the door for him to sit on PAM’s Political Bureau – the party’s top executive body – by virtue of his status as a serving member of the government and in line with the party’s statutes.
That would instantly place him among the most senior decision‐makers within PAM, which is one of Morocco’s main political forces and a key player in the current governing coalition.
Questions over impact on football role
Le360 did not clarify whether Lekjaa’s expected party responsibilities will have any bearing on his future as head of the FRMF, where he has become one of the most influential administrators in African football.
As president of the federation, Lekjaa has overseen a period of heightened ambition for Moroccan football, both at national team and club level, as well as major infrastructure projects and high‐profile international bids.
His potential rise inside PAM coincides with heightened political and sporting attention on Morocco, amid ongoing legal and disciplinary disputes involving the national team, including a case with Senegal that has reached the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
A separate le360 headline referenced the issue with the line: “عكس المتوقع.. تسريب معلومات جديدة حول قرار “كاس” في قضية المغرب والسنغال” – suggesting new, unexpected information has been leaked about CAS’s decision in the Morocco–Senegal case – but the outlet did not provide further detail in the report on Lekjaa’s political move.
Key government figure with dual influence
Domestically, Lekjaa is widely regarded as one of the most prominent faces in the Moroccan government, owing to his central role in managing budget policy at a time of economic pressures and reform.
At the same time, his leadership of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation has given him considerable visibility and leverage, with football considered a strategic soft‐power tool for the kingdom.
This dual influence – combining high‐level financial stewardship and control over the country’s most popular sport – has made Lekjaa a pivotal actor in both administrative and political circles.
Analysts are likely to view his formal alignment with PAM as a move that could further tighten the links between government, party structures and sports governance in Morocco.
If confirmed at the upcoming National Council meeting, his accession to the Political Bureau would ensure that one of the country’s most recognisable public figures plays a direct role in shaping PAM’s strategy and positioning in the run‐up to the legislative polls.
For now, neither PAM nor Lekjaa has publicly commented on the reported plans, and there has been no official indication of any changes to his responsibilities at the football federation.
