Morocco’s Youth Take Center Stage: Will Elections Translate to Real Change?

Morocco’s recent parliamentary election has been framed as a test of the country’s young people’s willingness to engage in formal politics after last year’s nationwide protests. The Gen Z movement, which began in September 2025, drew attention with its leaderless mobilization online and on-the-ground demands for better public services, jobs, and an end to corruption.

The protests themselves were sparked by outrage over the deaths of eight women following Caesarean deliveries at a public hospital in Agadir. This event was just one symptom of a broader set of grievances that have come to define Morocco’s youth. Many young people feel disillusioned with traditional politics and its failure to deliver on promises.

“The previous protests by Gen Z have sparked more youth engagement in political parties,” said Hamza El Kharroubi, founder of the Environment and Sustainability Party. However, he also acknowledged that this engagement must translate into tangible results. One challenge facing young candidates is the significant gap between their idealized vision for Morocco’s future and the harsh realities of governance.

Morocco’s political system gives the monarchy a central institutional role, while elected governments are responsible for public policy and legislation. This means that even if a party wins office, it must navigate the complexities of working within a system that prioritizes stability over radical change. For Az-el Arab Hilmi, 32, who works with the secretariat of the Federation of the Democratic Left (FGD), this reality is precisely why young people must be engaged in decision-making.

Hilmi’s emphasis on accountability highlights the need for young people to hold their representatives accountable, rather than simply expecting them to deliver miracles. “No party can fix every problem as soon as it reaches a council or a position of responsibility,” he noted. However, what they can realistically deliver is transparency and responsible governance.

The election also represents an opportunity for Morocco’s youth to break free from the notion that politics is something distant and inaccessible. As Moubarak Toumi, 18, pointed out, this mindset has persisted despite efforts to engage young people in politics. “Today, however, we must renew our thinking and engage more actively to build a better future,” he said.

However, translating engagement into real change will require more than just voting; it demands that citizens continue to monitor their representatives, ask questions, criticize their actions, and demand accountability. As Hilmi noted, “The election is not a blank cheque.” It’s only the beginning of a relationship between citizens and their elected officials.

Morocco’s youth unemployment rate stands at 13 percent, with nearly four in ten young people aged 15-24 out of work. The election offers a chance for these issues to be addressed through formal politics, but it also risks perpetuating the status quo if not managed carefully. Ultimately, it’s not just about which party wins or loses; it’s about whether Morocco’s youth can harness their energy and idealism into something that brings real change.