Key facts
- Moroccan political parties are campaigning to attract young voters in the upcoming election.
- Parties are promising jobs and affordable housing to address widespread discontent.
- Youth unemployment is around 27%, the highest rate of any age group.
- One in three young Moroccans are neither working, studying, nor training.
- Only one third of Moroccans aged 18-35 trust parliament, the prime minister, or political parties, according to a March survey.
- The election is scheduled for September 23.
Moroccan political parties are intensifying their efforts to engage young voters ahead of the September 23 election, addressing widespread discontent fueled by economic hardship and uneven development. Promises of job creation and affordable housing are central to campaign platforms, particularly from the National Rally of Independents (RNI) and the Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM), which aim to create approximately one million jobs and highlight infrastructure investments for the 2030 World Cup.
Despite progress in sectors like manufacturing and infrastructure, many young Moroccans face significant economic challenges, including a youth unemployment rate of around 27%. A March survey by Afrobarometer indicated that only about one-third of Moroccans aged 18 to 35 trust political institutions. Analysts note that events like last year's protests and the July border rush to the Spanish enclave of Ceuta underscore this disillusionment, with some viewing the migration attempt as a form of protest against political disengagement.
Young voters, who constitute about 12% of the population but only 3% of registered voters, express skepticism towards traditional political promises, citing a lack of ideological differentiation between parties and a perception that elections do not lead to substantial policy changes. The monarchy retains significant control over the country's policy direction, with parties often competing to align with the palace's objectives rather than charting distinct development models. This dynamic, according to economist Rachid Aourraz, leads to the monarchy receiving credit for successes and the government bearing blame for failures. Morocco's "New Development Model" aims to double GDP per capita by 2035, but official statistics reveal a persistent gap between economic performance and public perception, particularly concerning unemployment and underemployment among the youth.