Moroccan domestic economic and political challenges

Moroccan political leaders and officials are addressing various domestic economic and social challenges. Minister Amal El Fallah Seghrouchni has proposed reviewing the public holiday system, describing the current 17 official holidays as “very sick” compared to neighboring Arab nations, though any changes would require economic studies.

Simultaneously, the ruling National Rally of Independents faces electoral pressure due to social issues and declining purchasing power. Political figures have voiced specific grievances regarding the rising cost of essential goods, such as meat and fish, with Mohamed Ouzine of the People's Movement Party stating that over 80% of households face deteriorating living conditions. Additionally, leaders like Fatima Zahra Mansouri have called for a new social contract to address territorial inequality and reconnect youth with national institutions.

These tensions regarding regional neglect manifested during a recent Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM) meeting in the Taounate region. A local citizen publicly confronted high-ranking officials, including Fatima Zahra Mansouri and Fouzi Lekjaa, criticizing parliamentarians for decades of perceived neglect and unfulfilled promises.

In response to ongoing social pressures, Mohamed Ouzzine, Secretary General of the Mouvement Populaire, has proposed a “rent-to-own” housing reform in Marrakech. This initiative aims to assist low-to-middle-income households and young people by converting a portion of monthly rent into capital for property acquisition. Ouzzine emphasized a shift from “the right to housing” to “the right to home ownership,” suggesting the use of public land, financing guarantees, and tailored bank credits to facilitate family stability and wealth creation.