Moroccan Party Links Ceuta Migration Crisis to Economic Failures, Calls for New Social Contract

The Popular Movement Party in Morocco has identified accumulated economic, social, and developmental imbalances as the root cause of the recent wave of irregular migration towards the Spanish enclave of Ceuta. The party issued a statement expressing deep concern over the mass exodus of young Moroccans, noting that the scenes witnessed in the region echoed events from May 2021 and September 2024, but with a notable difference: entire families and diverse age groups participated in the crossing attempts.

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The wave of irregular migration that the border regions have witnessed towards the occupied city of Ceuta reflects accumulated economic, social, and developmental imbalances, calling for a comprehensive review of public choices and the launch of a new social contract that restores citizen confidence and places their dignity at the heart of public policies.

The party holds the government politically responsible for the worsening indicators, citing a rise in unemployment, a decline in purchasing power, widening social and spatial disparities, stalled job creation initiatives, and the limited impact of social protection programs. According to the statement, these factors have deepened feelings of exclusion and loss of hope among broad segments of society, particularly the youth.

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The party holds the government politically responsible for the exacerbation of these indicators, considering that the past few years have been characterized by a high unemployment rate, a decline in purchasing power, widening social and spatial disparities, stalled employment initiatives, and the weak actual impact of social protection programs.

In response, the Popular Movement Party advocates for a thorough review of public policies and the launch of a new social contract. This contract, they argue, should place citizen dignity at the core of public policies, establishing a social state founded on spatial justice, equal opportunities, good governance, efficiency, and accountability. The party believes that the events in Fnideq and Bni Ansar necessitate a national dialogue to diagnose systemic flaws and build a new future that addresses economic, social, rights-based, generational, and territorial challenges through effective institutions.

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The party renewed its emphasis on having previously warned, since the beginning of the government's term, about the dangers of transforming the constitutional right to work into limited-effect circumstantial programs, the stalling of the education and training system reform, the weakening of the advanced regionalization process, and the decline of social dialogue.

While criticizing the government's handling of unemployment, rising prices, and the perceived inefficiency of public support programs, the party also commended the wisdom, discipline, and professionalism of the public forces, security agencies, and territorial authorities in managing the events. They acknowledged the security forces' role in protecting lives and maintaining public order and offered condolences to the families of those who attempted the crossings. The party reaffirmed its commitment to the democratic path, urging future elections to serve as a platform for a new social contract focused on investing in people, empowering youth, and achieving social and spatial justice.

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In contrast, the party praised what it described as the wisdom, discipline, and professionalism demonstrated by the public forces, security agencies, and territorial authorities in managing the events, considering that their intervention contributed to protecting lives and preserving public security.