Viral football chants, job promises and harsh anti‑Israel slogans echo on the streets of Morocco as the parliament election approaches. Each of the 27 political parties strives to capture the energy of a generation that still feels left out by the king‑run government.
Generation Z’s roar has sparked more than 2,400 arrests in 2025 after protests over unemployment, healthcare and living costs. A candidate, Hamza El Kharroubi, highlights the migration wave from Ceuta – 60,000 people crossing the sea for a chance at better work – and answers “I want a seat to bring real change,” he told the BBC.
Football is the new political buzzword. The reigning Morocco for football champion’s president, Fouzi Lekjaa, turned his famous “Sir” chant into campaign video that filmed the nation’s excitement for its hosting of the 2026 World Cup.
The PJD, the Islamist party, has taken the route of revoking ties with Israel after a 2020 normalisation pact. Their promise to call for the end of diplomatic engagements is compensation for many who see the agreement as a mistake.
With almost 40 million people under 35, only 4% of the 15‑million voters feel free to vote. On polls they “hope for one vote to make a difference”, an activist added, reminding us that in a 395‑seat House the real unity lies in keeping more youth on the ballot it could be as simple as voting from overseas, turning the fight for a voice into a real win for civic engagement.
