Driss Azami Idrissi Highlights Economic Challenges in Upcoming Elections
On July 7, 2026, in Casablanca, a significant initiative has been launched that deserves recognition. With less than two months remaining until the legislative elections scheduled for September 2026, the economic news platform Iqtisadcom, part of the Finances News group, began a series of discussions with key political parties focusing on a central theme: "The Economic Challenges of the 2026 Elections." This initiative comes at a vital time when issues such as growth, employment, investment, and purchasing power should be prioritized in the electoral campaign.
The first guest in this series was Driss Azami Idrissi, the Deputy Secretary-General of the Justice and Development Party (PJD). With a background in economics and having previously served as the Minister Delegate in charge of Budget, he had the challenging task of defending the record of governments led by his party from 2012 to 2021, while also outlining the economic directions his party aims to present to the electorate.
Staying true to his analytical approach, Driss Azami Idrissi supported his comments with a wealth of statistical data. In his view, the reforms implemented in recent years have failed to restore the confidence of economic actors, whom he sees as the true drivers of investment. He believes that the business climate continues to suffer from a credibility deficit, which hinders private initiative and hampers economic dynamism.
To illustrate his points, he highlighted that bank deposits have increased from 485 to 513 billion dirhams, yet this growth has not translated into a significant revival of productive investment. He also indicated that approximately 50 billion dirhams remain outside the economic circuit, thereby evading financing for businesses and the national economy.
The former minister also revisited the topic of participatory finance, considering it one of the key reforms initiated under PJD governments. Since its official launch in 2018, this sector has reportedly achieved an annual growth rate of nearly 17%, while participatory housing financing now accounts for almost 12% of housing credits.
Another critical issue raised was the Samir refinery. According to Driss Azami Idrissi, the successive energy crises and geopolitical tensions have underscored the necessity for Morocco to possess national refining capabilities. Beyond the industrial aspect, he views this as an issue of energy sovereignty, supply security, and market regulation for fuels.
Beyond the PJD's proposals, this inaugural meeting provides insight into the themes that are likely to shape the campaign in the coming weeks. The economy is emerging as the primary battleground among the political parties. If other parties take the opportunity to publicly confront their diagnoses and projects, this initiative could elevate the level of democratic debate by providing voters with more substantive content to evaluate the programs rather than focusing solely on political posturing.
As reported by maroc-hebdo.com.
