New Faces in Moroccan Elections Face Uphill Battle Against Established Elites

As Morocco gears up for the September parliamentary elections, a keen debate is unfolding among political analysts regarding the potential impact of new candidates on the electoral landscape. While the emergence of fresh faces, particularly among the youth, is anticipated, their ability to challenge the entrenched influence of established "election emperors" and local notables is viewed with skepticism. The current political climate, characterized by the dominance of traditional power brokers and the strategic considerations of political parties, presents significant hurdles for newcomers.

“

New faces will face immense difficulties in displacing the old elites from the forefront of the political scene, mainly due to the parties' greatest concern, which is to win as many parliamentary seats as possible, making them consider betting on youth a gamble that could lead to the loss of their electoral positions.

Political analysts like Mohamed Chkeir highlight the "craft" of politics in Morocco, suggesting it has evolved into a profession where veteran politicians possess deeply rooted electoral bases and networks. This makes it exceedingly difficult for new and young candidates to penetrate these established structures or gain the trust of voters. Chkeir notes that parties, driven by the primary objective of securing the maximum number of parliamentary seats, often perceive fielding young candidates as a risky gamble that could jeopardize their existing electoral strongholds. This pragmatic approach, focused on maximizing seat acquisition, tends to sideline emerging political talent.

“

The practice of politics in Morocco has transformed into a 'craft' that requires special professionalism, as veteran actors possess qualifications and stable electoral bases that they are keen to strengthen, making the task difficult for new and young faces to penetrate these bases or gain the trust of voters and build a competitive electoral base.

Furthermore, the phenomenon of established figures and notables moving between political parties in pursuit of nominations adds another layer of complexity. This fluidity among the "old guard" narrows the space for new entrants. Rashid Lazrak, a political science professor, elaborates that the success of new political figures in Morocco is less about individual competence or modern discourse and more about their capacity to navigate and penetrate a relatively stable electoral structure built over years of local accumulation, clientelism, and the cultivation of familiar electoral symbols. Elections, particularly legislative ones, are not solely decided by programs or slogans but by social networks, mobilization capabilities, and local presence.

“

The party's pragmatism, which is reinforced by the bet on winning the largest number of parliamentary seats, plays a decisive role in finalizing nominations, especially as political organizations continue to give priority to classic figures and notables when setting nomination lists.

The list-based electoral system is also identified as a factor perpetuating the dominance of traditional elites. This system often gives precedence to the heads of lists, who are typically from the traditional political class, while new faces may be relegated to the role of "rabbits" or vote-gathering tools. Despite these challenges, analysts suggest that the upcoming elections will still serve as a valuable training ground for younger politicians, offering them experience for future electoral contests. However, the overarching sentiment is that significant shifts in the balance of power are unlikely without fundamental changes to the electoral system and party nomination processes.

“

The possibility of new political figures succeeding in Morocco remains, but it is not a matter related to individual competence or the modernity of political discourse, but rather to their ability to penetrate a relatively stable electoral structure formed through years of local accumulation, clientelism, and familiar electoral symbols.