The Imperative of Political Will in Youth Integration
The establishment of a genuine democracy transcends mere legal texts; it fundamentally requires a political will that manifests in reality. Between the royal initiative advocating for the inclusion of youth and the day-to-day practices of political parties, there exists a notable gap that warrants examination. This disparity calls to mind the figure of Allal El Fassi, one of the most prominent founders of Moroccan nationalism, who at the young age of 26 shouldered the weight of national issues and played a pivotal role in shaping the national project. It was not his age that granted him legitimacy, but rather his competence and commitment to the cause. This reflection is not merely nostalgic but serves as a mirror to confront our current political reality.
King Mohammed VI has consistently emphasized the necessity of renewing political elites, opening avenues for young talents, and addressing the phenomenon of political apathy among the youth through serious approaches rather than cosmetic solutions. The 2011 Constitution established a comprehensive framework for integrating youth into political life; Article 33 enshrines the right to political participation, while Article 36 obligates parties to educate citizens and train leaders. Moreover, the legislator has gone further by stipulating conditions in the party's organizational law regarding the representation of youth and women within party structures and electoral lists.
The Gap Between Text and Implementation
Despite these provisions, the gap between legislation and implementation remains vast, often resulting in formal compliance at the expense of genuine integration. From a purely legal standpoint, this issue creates an imbalance within the democratic representation system itself; representative democracy does not solely hinge on electoral boxes but extends to the quality of representation and the legitimacy of those who carry it. When leadership is confined within a narrow circle based on seniority and other vague criteria, rather than merit and qualifications, representation becomes inadequate in the constitutional sense of the word. King Mohammed VI has not ceased to raise this issue in his speeches, elevating it from diagnosis to active monitoring, thus granting it a strategic dimension that transcends mere rhetoric.
The essence of this royal will places political parties under a dual responsibility: a legal obligation to comply and an ethical imperative to renew themselves and their elites before demanding society's renewed trust. This royal directive is distinctive in that it does not merely diagnose the situation but is rooted in a comprehensive vision that positions youth as a lever for political development rather than merely a seasonal electoral asset that is later marginalized. The young voter, who derives information from social media platforms rather than television and evaluates discourse based on credibility rather than eloquence, has become a crucial player in the political equation.
In this context, it is noteworthy to mention the experience of the Istiqlal Party under the current leadership of Dr. Nizar Baraka, which represents a model worthy of reflection and commendation. The party has adopted a clear direction towards promoting youth to the forefront, not only in terms of training and development but also in decision-making and candidacy positions, which fundamentally embodies a practical response to the royal will and a genuine attempt to bridge the gap between constitutional text and party practice. This approach reminds us of what Moroccan history has demonstrated: that significant qualitative additions have always stemmed from a young generation that believes in a national project and possesses the tools to realize it.
The challenge today is to replicate this equation in the face of new challenges—employment, digitization and artificial intelligence, and social transformation—issues that fundamentally concern the rising generation before they are political concerns for men and women in power. As the electoral deadlines approach, the youth issue transcends a mere moral demand; it becomes an explicit electoral stake. The young voter, who evaluates political narratives for authenticity, becomes a pivotal element in the equation. A party that presents young faces reflecting their issues and speaking their language possesses the key to effective communication with this demographic.
Here, the legal and political calculations intersect; the law mandates, the royal will guides, and the electoral reality incentivizes. This intersection makes directing youth towards decision-making positions a strategic and national choice rather than a mere tactical concession to appease public opinion. In conclusion, the realization of the royal will concerning youth is not an administrative task that can be fulfilled through mere formal compliance, nor is it merely an electoral slogan raised during election seasons. Instead, it is a serious national project that requires a genuine conviction that competence is not exclusive to older generations and that political legitimacy derives from popular trust, not from the age of a party membership card. Political parties that grasp this equation today will carve out the political map of tomorrow, while those that remain shackled to seniority and other considerations will find themselves outside the equation—not by legal decree, but by the judgment of history.
As reported by aljazeera.net.
