Fostering Youth Engagement in Political Processes
On May 23, 2026, the city of Fez hosted the inaugural regional meeting for the Fez-Meknes region, focusing on the theme: "Youth and the 2026 Legislative Elections: Pathways to Participation and Opportunities for Influence." This significant event was organized by the Moroccan Center for Youth and Societal Transformations in collaboration with the Youth Dynamics for Citizen Participation and the Citizens of the Street Association, with support from the Friedrich Ebert Foundation. The meeting aligns with a national context characterized by an increasing public discourse surrounding the upcoming legislative elections, addressing critical issues related to the renewal of political elites, enhancing trust in elected institutions, and expanding youth involvement in political life.
The meeting commenced with an address by Mr. Youssef Kallakhi, President of the Moroccan Center for Youth and Societal Transformations. He emphasized that this regional meeting aims to strengthen the presence of youth in public discussions, equipping them with the tools necessary for understanding, analyzing, and initiating actions, thus positioning them as key players in decision-making rather than mere subjects of public policies. Mr. Kallakhi noted that the gathering serves as a platform for collective reflection on avenues for citizen participation and diagnosing the reasons behind political apathy, while proposing practical mechanisms to rebuild trust in political action and elected institutions.
He underscored the significance of political participation, asserting that it should not be confined to the act of voting but should extend to engaging in public discourse, advocating for societal issues, and monitoring and evaluating public policies. Moreover, he highlighted that the youth dynamics for citizen participation focus on training, awareness-raising, and encouraging a conscious and responsible involvement of young people in various forms of political and civic participation, particularly with the impending 2026 elections, which necessitate a collective responsibility to enhance youth contributions towards building a more democratic and equitable Morocco.
Addressing Political Apathy and Trust Issues
Mrs. Rahab Mzyati, Executive Director of the Citizens of the Street Association, pointed out that one of the foremost challenges lies in the lack of trust in elected institutions and political actors, which is reflected in low participation rates, especially among the youth. She noted that apathy should not be interpreted as an outright rejection of politics, but rather as an expression of disappointment and a yearning for political discourse and practices that resonate more closely with the daily concerns of young people.
Dr. Zoubida Nkan emphasized the evolving concept of political participation, contending that youth no longer engage with politics solely through traditional means but express their views via digital platforms and new forms of initiative and expression. However, she cautioned that this digital presence does not correspond to a tangible presence within elected institutions and decision-making centers, raising the issue of transitioning from symbolic or digital participation to effective and organized engagement within political and institutional frameworks.
Expert on civil society and governance, Mr. Abdalkbir Jamai, shed light on the trust deficit and the question of political representation among youth, arguing that the decline in electoral participation reflects a deeper crisis in the relationship between young people and political institutions. He highlighted that the limited registration in electoral rolls and the decreasing interest in participation mirror a lack of confidence in the efficacy of elections, a feeling of powerlessness to influence public decisions, and a perception that representative institutions inadequately address the expectations and fundamental issues of the youth.
Jamai also asserted that the crisis of trust extends to political parties and elected institutions due to declining roles in mediation and facilitation, a lack of renewal among political elites, and the dominance of narrow electoral calculations over broader societal projects capable of accommodating youth aspirations. He linked this crisis to socio-economic conditions, particularly unemployment, vulnerability, and inadequate social justice, emphasizing that youth have not withdrawn from the public sphere but have shifted to new forms of expression and participation through digital spaces and civil protest, necessitating a reconstruction of trust by linking political participation to tangible impacts in citizens' daily lives.
Professor Ali Lakassib, a researcher in legal and political studies, highlighted the importance of political participation and registration in electoral rolls as fundamental pathways to contribute to development and enhance youth presence in public spaces and elected institutions. He stated that participation should not merely be understood as a seasonal electoral act but as a civic journey that begins with awareness of the importance of registering in electoral lists and extends to engaging in public discourse, contributing to collective choices, and defending issues related to youth in decision-making arenas. Furthermore, he emphasized that the emergence of a young political elite capable of advocating for the expectations of this demographic requires a shift from a spectator or critic role to one of proactive involvement within institutions, parties, and representative bodies.
In conclusion, participants recognized that the emergence of new forms of political expression, particularly through digital platforms, could present an opportunity to broaden participation if positively framed and transformed into proposals and citizen initiatives capable of influencing public decisions. They affirmed that digital participation should not serve as a substitute for institutional participation but rather as a complementary avenue.
In wrapping up the inaugural meeting, participants arrived at several practical recommendations, including: enhancing political and legal education for youth; integrating civic and political education into socialization processes; generalizing the teaching of citizenship education across all educational levels, including higher education, due to its critical role in instilling values of participation, democracy, and human rights; renewing the political discourse of political parties and developing their communication mechanisms in alignment with the interests and aspirations of youth; strengthening the internal democracy of parties and expanding the presence of youth in their structures while empowering them in positions of responsibility and proposal; encouraging digital participation and providing support mechanisms for youth initiatives; and enhancing transparency in the management of public affairs to build bridges of trust between youth and institutions.
Moreover, participants stressed the necessity of transitioning from sporadic actions linked to electoral events to sustainable civil and political actions, making citizen participation a daily practice and a collective responsibility. Ultimately, the first regional meeting for the Fez-Meknes region concluded that broadening youth participation in political life is a crucial entry point for renewing democracy and reinforcing trust in institutions. It also affirmed that the 2026 elections represent an opportunity to reframe the question of youth within political actions, not merely as an electoral bloc but as a social and propositional force capable of contributing to decision-making and building a more just and equitable future.
As reported by akherkhabar.ma.
