Elections of September 23: Is the Political Class Meeting the Expectations of Moroccan Citizens?
As the elections on September 23 approach, political parties are rolling out their programs, slogans, and promises. Purchasing power, employment, health, education, and increases in the minimum wage… the commitments are abundant. But in a Morocco that is accelerating its transformation ahead of 2030, one question looms large: is the political class truly capable of keeping pace with the country?
On September 23, Moroccans will head to the polls. A new political phase will begin, filled with programs, rallies, promises, and declarations.
As with every election, political parties will pledge to create more jobs, improve the healthcare system, enhance the education system, and boost purchasing power.
On paper, the program looks appealing.
In reality, there is a much tougher question to grapple with: who will fulfill these promises, with what resources, and within what timeframes?
### Parties Struggling to Renew Themselves
One of the key issues of this election resides in the renewal of the political class.
For several years, the Moroccan partisan landscape has been marked by formations and political figures already well-known to the public. The slogans change, the posters are updated, but the faces and speeches often give the impression of a never-ending cycle.
However, the Moroccan citizen has also changed.
More connected, well-informed, and increasingly exposed to international economic realities, today’s citizen is less responsive to general promises.
No longer do they simply ask the parties, “What is your program?”
Now they inquire: “Who will implement it? How much will it cost? Where will you find the funding? And why hasn’t this been done before?”
A series of questions that future candidates will need to answer beyond mere slogans.
### The Minimum Wage at 5,000 Dirhams: An Alluring Promise, But at What Cost?
The question of the minimum wage should naturally occupy a significant place in electoral discussions.
Raising the minimum wage to 5,000 dirhams may seem, at first glance, to be a socially appealing measure. For employees, an increase in income certainly represents an improvement in purchasing power.
Yet, behind this electoral promise lies a far more complex economic equation.
A significant increase in labor costs places mechanical pressure on businesses, especially in labor-intensive sectors with slim margins.
Moreover, Morocco must consider its attractiveness to foreign investors.
Why do they come to Morocco?
For its stability, proximity to Europe, infrastructure, ports, industrial zones, trade agreements, and a combination of competitive production costs and available skills.
If labor costs surge significantly, international investors will necessarily have to reevaluate their calculations.
Thus, it is not enough to simply ask, “Can we raise the minimum wage to 5,000 dirhams?”
The real question is, “Can we raise wages while maintaining Morocco’s competitiveness?”
The challenge lies here: creating more wealth and productivity before promising greater redistribution.
### Health, Education, Unemployment: Where Are the Skills?
Significant social questions abound.
Healthcare remains a major challenge. Education is arguably one of the country’s most pressing challenges. And unemployment, particularly among youth, continues to be a central concern.
But another question deserves attention: do the parties truly possess the necessary skills to drive these reforms?
Healthcare reform cannot be reduced to merely announcing additional hospitals.
It requires doctors, nurses, equipment, funding, effective governance, and an organization capable of operating on a daily basis.
Education does not reform simply by changing curricula. It demands a long-term vision, proper training for teachers, and deep reflection on the skills Morocco will need in the future.
As for unemployment, it will not disappear with the mere announcement of hundreds of thousands of jobs.
A sustainable job necessitates a productive economy, competitive businesses, investment, innovation, and, above all, skills tailored to market needs.
However, Morocco has numerous professionals and talents within its companies, administrations, universities, and industrial sectors.
The crucial question is whether these skills are sufficiently represented in political circles and if they can genuinely contribute to public decision-making.
### A Country Moving at High Speed
This is where the Moroccan paradox emerges.
While the political debate may sometimes revolve around the same familiar recipes, the country itself has undergone profound change.
Highway infrastructure, ports, high-speed trains, industrial zones, renewable energy, automotive, aerospace, tourism, logistics, and digitalization: Morocco has initiated a profound transformation of its economy and territory.
The Kingdom now aims to play in a different league.
This evolution is also framed by the 2030 prospect, particularly with plans to co-host the World Cup alongside Spain and Portugal.
And it is precisely this contrast that is striking.
Sometimes, it seems Morocco is moving faster than its political discourse.
The Moroccan citizen can see the transformations occurring in their country and recognize the central role played by King Mohammed VI in this modernization dynamic and in major structuring projects.
But they may also wonder why some members of the political class do not always seem to evolve at the same pace.
Morocco is building the infrastructure necessary to welcome the world in 2030.
But can it develop an educational system capable of preparing Moroccans for 2030 at the same pace?
Morocco attracts international industrial investments.
But can it train enough young people for the jobs of tomorrow?
Morocco is modernizing its cities, networks, and infrastructure.
But can it modernize its public services with the same speed?
### The Citizen No Longer Wishes for Miracles
The Moroccan of 2026 may perhaps no longer desire miracles.
What they seek is efficiency.
A functioning hospital. A school that educates. A job that allows them to live with dignity. An administration that simplifies life instead of complicating it.
Most importantly, they want to know where their country is heading.
Electoral promises will therefore need to pass the test of economic reality.
Because making promises is easy.
Financing, recruiting, training, producing, and reforming are significantly more challenging.
An electoral promise may fill a meeting hall.
A successful reform, however, truly transforms the lives of citizens.
Can Morocco of 2030 be governed with the policies of yesterday?
The 2030 deadline represents a historic opportunity.
The World Cup can accelerate investments, tourism, infrastructure, and the Kingdom’s international visibility.
But true success will not solely be measured by the number of stadiums built, hotels opened, or kilometers of highways constructed.
It will be gauged by Morocco’s ability to transform this dynamic into sustainable growth, jobs, skills, and tangible improvements in citizens’ daily lives.
The elections on September 23 could, therefore, signify more than just a simple change in majority or a renewal of seats.
They could be a real-world test of the political class’s ability to support a country that has already shifted gears.
Morocco of 2030 will likely not be governable with political formulas from 2010.
There will need to be more skills, accountability, transparency, speed of execution, and above all, a capacity to tell the truth to citizens.
Even when that truth is less popular than a promise of 5,000 dirhams.
After all, the citizen may be willing to accept a government that says, “We cannot do it yet.”
What they are far less willing to accept is being promised that it will be done tomorrow… when everyone knows it may actually be the day after tomorrow.
On September 23, the ballots will speak.
The question remains whether, this time, parties will truly listen.
For Morocco is already marching towards 2030.
Thus, the real question is no longer whether the country wants to shift gears. It’s whether its political class is capable of shifting into high gear.
