Morocco’s business leaders are preparing to elect a new head of the country’s main employers’ organization, the Confédération Générale des Entreprises du Maroc (CGEM), on May 14, 2026.
Business: Morocco’s business community is gearing up to choose a new leader in a closely watched election for the nation’s economic landscape.
The CGEM held its board meeting on March 5, 2026, to address several key items, including the 2025 moral report, the proposed 2025 financial statements, the approval of the date and agenda for the next Ordinary and Elective General Assembly, the election calendar, and the appointment of members to the Election Process Monitoring Committee. The board approved both the moral report and the 2025 financial statements. It also approved the schedule for the upcoming elections for the CGEM’s national presidency.
The current leadership’s term is expiring. According to the CGEM statutes, the president is elected by the Elective General Assembly for a term not exceeding three years. The president’s term ends after the Ordinary General Assembly meeting to review the accounts of the last fiscal year, held within the year the term expires. The presidential role is personal, meaning the president holds the position in their own right, regardless of the member they represent. The position of president cannot be held concurrently with those of General Vice President, Federation President, CGEM Regional President, or CGEM Vice President.
The current president is eligible for re-election but is limited to two consecutive terms. A new CGEM president will be chosen, as the current president has already served two successive terms. Candidates for the presidency must meet strict criteria. “Only candidates who are natural persons of Moroccan nationality may apply for the position of president or general vice president: legal representatives of a member company of the CGEM with at least three years of continuous membership, including the year of the elective general assembly; or legal representatives of one of the CGEM’s sectoral federations as defined in Article 28.3 of these statutes, with at least three years of continuous membership in said Federation, including the year of the elective general assembly,” the CGEM statutes state. Candidates must also meet the eligibility requirements set forth in the internal regulations.
The new leadership team will take the helm of an organization that is more than just a corporate or honorary club for business leaders. The CGEM serves as a direct point of contact for public authorities on numerous issues. Representatives of the Confederation participate in annual social dialogue meetings with other social partners. The business community even has a parliamentary group within the upper house of the Moroccan Parliament, the Chamber of Counsellors. Another key concern for members is the permanent commissions. Based on a decision by the board of directors, permanent specialized commissions are established within the CGEM to study issues within their respective areas of responsibility or those referred to them by the board of directors, the national enterprise council, or the CGEM president. These commissions are composed of representatives from CGEM members who register and serve on a voluntary and unpaid basis.
The year 2026 will be a major election year for Morocco. In addition to the CGEM elections, the country is preparing to hold legislative elections. On March 5, the Council of Government examined and approved draft decree No. 2.26.190 setting the date for the election of members of the House of Representatives, presented by the Minister of the Interior.
This draft decree aims to set the date for the election of members of the House of Representatives, as well as the dates for the period reserved for submitting candidacies through the electronic platform provided for this purpose and to the governmental authority responsible for receiving candidacies, and to define the period dedicated to the election campaign, in accordance with the provisions of Organic Law No. 27.11 relating to the House of Representatives. The election of members of the House of Representatives has been set for Wednesday, September 23, 2026. The election campaign will begin at 12:00 a.m. On Thursday, September 10, 2026, and end at 12:00 a.m. (midnight) on Tuesday, September 22, 2026.
The upcoming CGEM election comes as Morocco continues to navigate a dynamic economic environment, and the choice of leadership will likely shape the direction of the country’s private sector in the years to come.
