The Moroccan electorate is set to cast their votes on September 23rd, carrying aspirations that are significantly simpler than the intricate language of electoral party programs. Voters seek improvements in income, dignified job opportunities, and accessible healthcare services. However, a substantial gap exists between the declaration of electoral promises and their translation into actionable public policies. This disparity raises fundamental questions regarding the numbers and slogans presented, the costs involved, sources of funding, timelines, and the legal and institutional mechanisms necessary for implementation.
Job Creation and Economic Promises
Job creation and purchasing power prominently feature in the electoral programs, especially in the context of a national unemployment rate that reached 10.8% in the first quarter of 2026, according to the High Commission for Planning. The Progressive Socialist Party pledges to create one million jobs over the next five years, aiming to reduce unemployment to below 10% and increase female workforce participation from 19% to 25%. Meanwhile, the Authenticity and Modernity Party promises a net creation of one million jobs between 2027 and 2031, with a goal of reducing unemployment to 7% by 2031. They estimate the additional costs associated with their commitments to be around 350 billion dirhams (approximately $37 billion). The party claims that economic growth, contributions from local communities, reallocation of resources, and budget efficiency will finance these commitments.
On the other hand, the Justice and Development Party focuses on youth employment and facilitating access for small businesses to public contracts, alongside supporting the social and solidarity economy, though they do not specify a total target for job creation. Public law professor Rashid Labkar notes that the feasibility of any electoral promise hinges on three fundamental elements: realism and applicability, a clear timeline, and identifiable financial sources. Economic expert Rashid Sari emphasizes that discussions about employment cannot be divorced from growth hypotheses and the sectors capable of generating job opportunities, as achieving one million jobs is not merely a matter of announcing high growth rates; it requires identifying sectors and investments capable of absorbing such job volumes.
Social Safety Nets and Addressing Vulnerability
Social programs generally agree on prioritizing social protection and combating poverty and vulnerability, yet they diverge in the nature of proposed measures and targeting mechanisms for beneficiaries. The program of the Socialist Union of Popular Forces highlights commitments to reduce the tax burden on workers by 10%, increase their income by 15%, reduce the unemployment rate to below 8%, and ensure 100% social coverage while integrating 20% of beneficiaries into the job market. Additionally, the party commits to supporting 100,000 small businesses and dedicating 30% of public contracts to relevant enterprises.
The Popular Movement Party proposes revising the targeting system for vulnerable groups by eliminating the digital social index for specific demographics, including widows, divorcees, disabled individuals, and seniors over 60 without income. Their program also includes a monthly support of 1,000 dirhams for one year for degree holders seeking employment. Political science researcher Mariam Belhssin asserts that the seriousness of social programs is measured by the realism of promises, their financing and implementation feasibility, and their responsiveness to the actual needs of citizens, alongside having clear indicators for measuring impact and accountability.
Belhssin adds that analyzing programs should extend beyond the volume of announced measures to consider the nature of the proposed social model—whether it involves managing vulnerability through support mechanisms or addressing the structural causes of poverty, unemployment, and social and spatial inequalities. There is a crucial connection between employment, education, health, social protection, and economic empowerment for women and youth, prompting a comparison of new promises against the previous performance of parties involved in governance.
Furthermore, constitutional law and political science researcher Mariam Abillil highlights that the electoral program represents a vision for government action, considering constitutional competencies, legislative processes, and financial capacities. She notes that the legitimacy of electoral promises does not equate to ease of execution, as they may require legislative amendments, mobilization of financial resources, or coordination among multiple institutions before they can be translated into public policy.
The financial law for 2026 allocates approximately 42.2 billion dirhams to the health sector, compared to 41.5 billion dirhams for social protection. According to 2024 census data, 69.8% of the population reported having health coverage. The National Rally of Independents proposes establishing what they call "territorial health groups" across all regions by 2027, employing an additional 5,000 health workers in rural areas and increasing the number of health professionals from 30 to 45 per 10,000 residents by 2030, along with upgrading over 1,600 primary healthcare institutions.
The Authenticity and Modernity Party places mandatory health insurance at the core of its commitments, promising to address an anticipated deficit of 33 billion dirhams before 2030, starting from the 2027 financial law, through controlling medication prices and standardizing treatment protocols, in addition to constructing four new regional university hospitals before the end of 2028. Economic expert Amin Sami reminds us that Moroccan households directly bear approximately 37.25% of current health expenditure, and the percentage of individuals aged 60 and above increased from 9.4% in 2014 to 13.8% in 2024, creating increasing pressure on the healthcare system in the coming years. He emphasizes that the benchmark for health reform should not only be the level of spending but also the impact it generates.
Finally, the role of culture varies within these programs, with some granting it an independent axis, while others incorporate it into identity or distribute it across multiple themes. Researcher in cultural and creative industries Abdul Latif Al-Haji emphasizes that his study on "Culture in the Electoral Programs for the 2026 Legislative Elections" utilized a procedural logic focusing on cultural aspects.
As reported by aljazeera.net.
