The Challenges Facing the Socialist Union Party
The Socialist Union of Popular Forces (USFP) finds itself at a critical juncture as it embarks on its election campaign for the legislative elections scheduled for September 23. This moment is particularly sensitive, not only due to the electoral stakes but also because of the outcomes that have emerged from the preparatory phase for these elections. In the lead-up to this pivotal moment, the party has experienced a series of resignations, departures, and political shifts among several of its leaders and members. Notably, figures with leftist backgrounds have transitioned to other political parties, highlighting a significant decline in the ability of the 'rose' party to maintain its position at the forefront of Moroccan leftist politics and attract prominent names from its historical and political milieu.
The party leadership presents its list of candidates as a manifestation of 'renewal and openness to competencies,' yet a closer examination reveals a more complex picture. Alongside the new candidates, several prominent figures have either left the party or chosen to contest the upcoming elections under other political banners. Historically, the USFP has been one of the key political entities representing the Moroccan left for decades, but it now appears less capable of retaining experienced individuals who had accumulated organizational and activist experience within its ranks. Meanwhile, some leftist figures are exploring new political spaces, whether within the New Left Alliance or in competing parties.
Resignations and the Future of the USFP
One of the most telling examples of this transformation is the case of Abdelhadi Khairat, a historic leader and a name closely associated with the party's memory and youth. In February, he opted to join the Party of Progress and Socialism (PPS) after a long estrangement from the USFP, culminating in a relationship with the party's First Secretary, Idriss Lachgar, that reached a point of no return. In a statement to the national television channel at that time, Khairat indicated that his decision to join the 'book' party followed a series of political meetings and consultations, expressing his conviction that continuing within the USFP was no longer feasible, underscoring the depth of the rift that characterized his relationship with the party in recent years.
The indicators of this exodus do not stop with historical figures. In recent weeks, a series of resignations linked to various aspects of managing candidate endorsements and electoral lists has emerged. The USFP's political bureau accepted the resignation of Rjaâa Al-Baqali Al-Tahiri, and Meryam Jamal Al-Idrisi announced her departure from the party amid controversy surrounding the results of the regional list candidate selection process. While the party insists that the process was conducted according to its statutes and internal laws, and that the political bureau unanimously approved the results of the adjudicating committees, the aforementioned individuals have presented differing interpretations regarding the implementation of those rules and standards.
The situation further escalated with the resignation of Salwa Al-Damnati, a former member of the political bureau and current parliamentarian, who announced on August 31 her departure from the party and its organizational structures, following criticisms she directed at the management methods and the organizational and political choices. Additionally, the departure of Ammar Hamza, the former regional secretary of the USFP in Wazzan, to the Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM), accompanied by several members and cadres, was officially announced in late August. This departure carries significance due to Hamza's organizational position within the party and because it occurred as parties were preparing to reshape their local bases in anticipation of the electoral contests.
The challenges facing the USFP extend beyond merely losing individual names; they raise deeper questions regarding the party's position within the broader landscape of the Moroccan left. A striking paradox in the 2026 elections is that part of the discourse surrounding the left's future no longer centers on the USFP's ability to lead this current but rather on the potential emergence of new centers that could attract leftist talents and figures. In this context, the establishment of the 'Left Alliance' between the Unified Socialist Party and the Democratic Left Federation on June 3 provides a new political framework openly declaring its desire to unify part of the leftist diaspora and contest the legislative elections with a joint political project. Both parties assert that this is not merely a temporary electoral coordination but a political alliance aimed at building a democratic and progressive alternative and overcoming the fragmentation that has characterized the left in recent years.
On the other hand, the USFP has failed to bring its declared 'project' of alliance with the Party of Progress and Socialism, announced in 2023, to fruition. This initiative stalled quickly, despite the historical common ground shared between the two, given that they are both part of the 'democratic bloc' and collectively secured a total of 56 seats in the 2021 elections—34 for the USFP and 22 for the PPS. Now, the USFP presents its candidate list in a different light; although it is geographically expansive and includes a large number of constituencies, the names that have the potential to attract national attention appear relatively limited. Among these are Abdelkarim Benatiq, a former minister and a well-known figure within the party, and Hassan Lachkar, the party's candidate in the Rabat Shalla constituency, who stands out primarily because he is the son of the First Secretary.
The discussions surrounding the nature of this list intensify considering that the USFP itself has relied, in several regions, on attracting individuals with previous political backgrounds outside the party. For instance, in the Marrakech-Safi region, several candidates presented had previously belonged to other parties before joining the USFP, in what is described as a strategy of attracting 'political nomads.' Prominent names in this landscape include Ahmed Al-Toumi, Hamid Al-Akaroud, Abdel-Samad Akdash, and Abdel-Ghani Kamel. This paradox raises a noteworthy political question: has the USFP, historically a training ground for activists and cadres, become increasingly dependent on attracting ready-made names from outside its organizational structure, even as some of its own members and leaders depart to other parties?
While Idriss Lachgar asserts that 77% of the local list representatives are new faces, and the party is banking on youth, women, and competencies, this narrative is met with debate regarding the meaning of renewal, which no longer stems from within the USFP itself but is seen as a compensation for organizational deficiencies. Lachgar faces intense criticism for allegedly sidelining active 'unionists' in favor of electoral figures in pursuit of parliamentary seats, shifting the focus away from rebuilding the party. This is reminiscent of the situation in 2021 with the former regional secretary of the USFP in Tangier-Assilah, Ahmed Yahya, who opposed Lachgar's bypassing of local organizations in candidate selection. Consequently, Lachgar dissolved the regional secretariat to take control, leading both parties into legal conflict.
This point is central to understanding the transformation that has occurred within the USFP. The party no longer possesses, with the same momentum, the extensive reservoir of leaders and activists that once formed its organizational, union, and intellectual extension. Moreover, many figures historically associated with the USFP's agenda have become estranged from the party or distanced from decision-making centers within it. Additionally, for a number of new leftist figures, affiliation with the USFP no longer appears to be an obvious choice, especially as other frameworks emerge, presenting themselves as spaces for reconstructing the left on more unified foundations.
As reported by assahifa.com.
