Of all the cases examined here, Morocco presents some of the greatest challenges. For, despite appearances, Levitsky and Way's model cannot be easily applied to it. Indeed, they explicitly rule it out as a potential study on the grounds that ‘the most important executive office is not elected’. More specifically, they argue that ‘the power of actors outside the electoral process’ – in this case the monarchy – ‘generates a distinct set of dynamics and challenges not found under competitive authoritarianism’. That the king's powers are numerous and great is beyond question. That his political position is far more secure than those of elected heads of state is similarly irrefutable. Unlike the presidents of competitive authoritarian Algeria and Mauritania, he does not have to submit to the vote. And, even though Bouteflika and Abdel Aziz have successfully minimised the risk of defeat, they have been able to do so only through enormous and sustained effort and still cannot eliminate it entirely.

In fairness to Levitsky and Way, they did not argue that their model could never be applied to countries like Morocco. Rather, they were explaining their choice of case studies for their book. They also picked their words carefully. They ruled nothing in or out but, instead, spoke of uncommon dynamics and unusual challenges. Indeed, the only phrase they used which requires closer interrogation is ‘outside the electoral process’. While this is, of course, literally true in the case of Morocco, it is also misleading. For the king is deeply affected by elections. Confirmation of just how important they are to him is provided by their very occurrence and by the palace's increasing efforts to ensure that they at least appear to be free and fair. That a regime headed by an executive who supposedly occupies political space somewhere beyond the reach of ballots and voters should go to such lengths to hold elections and be so anxious about their conduct belies claims and suggestions that he is impervious to them.

The staging of these ballots has already led Immaculada Szmolka to describe Morocco as competitive authoritarian.