Key facts
- Morocco's general election is scheduled for September 23.
- Over 50 percent of Morocco's population is under 35 years old.
- The Gen Z 212 uprising involved protests organized on Discord.
- The current government is led by Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch, elected in September 2021.
- Moroccan law enforcement is accused of facilitating the mass crossing into Ceuta.
- The National Rally of Independents (RNI) and Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM) are leading contenders.
Morocco is preparing for a general election on September 23, with its youth population deeply engaged but disillusioned by political realities. The election follows a turbulent year, including Gen Z protests in September 2025 and a migrant crisis in July where 72,000 Moroccans entered the Spanish enclave of Ceuta. The Gen Z 212 uprising, sparked by the deaths of eight women after routine caesarean sections, evolved into broader calls for investment in education over infrastructure for the 2030 World Cup co-hosting.
Jihane, a political coordinator at a Moroccan youth centre, noted increased youth engagement but persistent doubts about the impact of voting and lingering fears of corruption. She described a mood of 'cautious optimism' among young people, who are willing to give the political process another chance but are wary of betrayal.
Journalist and activist Hassan viewed the Ceuta migrant crisis, largely composed of young Moroccans, as a 'collective scream' from a generation that has lost hope in political parties and the state. He criticized the suppression of protests, which resulted in three deaths and over 2,400 arrests, with many still imprisoned. Hassan also pointed to accusations of political maneuvering and corruption between leading parties, the National Rally of Independents (RNI) and the Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM), particularly concerning the move of Fouzi Lekjaa, the minister delegate in charge of the budget, to PAM.
Analysts suggest Lekjaa's move is strategic, potentially positioning him for prime minister and forming a 'World Cup government' to lead the country during its 2030 tournament preparations. The election process itself faces scrutiny, with the interior ministry, which answers directly to the king, overseeing the electoral process, a move Hassan described as 'adding insult to injury'.
Despite government initiatives to support youth campaigning, including covering 75 percent of costs, unrealistic conditions like collecting 200 notarized signatures from a geographically diverse electorate, with specific gender requirements, have meant no candidate under 35 has met the criteria. Jihane emphasized that reforms should genuinely empower youth, not just serve as symbolic gestures. Mohamed, from the Socialist Youth Branch, noted that while many parties have incorporated Gen Z demands into their campaigns, the leftist parties PPS and PSU are seen as closest to embracing these demands, though he stressed that 'real action goes beyond discourse and slogans'.