HIBAPRESS – Oujda
The association activist and human rights defender Wafaa Taji is contesting the legislative elections in the city of Oujda, as the candidate for the local list of the Progress and Socialism Party (PPS). This step comes based on a rich academic and professional career in the fields of administration, social development, and the protection of vulnerable groups, to present a model aiming to provide qualitative added value to parliamentary work in the region.
In this interview, Wafaa Taji sheds light on the motivations for her candidacy, her vision for rebuilding trust between citizens and parties, and her messages on empowering women and local competencies.
In response to a question from "HIBAPRESS" to the candidate Wafaa Taji, what prompted you to engage in political work through the Progress and Socialism Party?
Wafaa Taji: I hold a Bachelor's degree in French Literature and a university diploma in Business Management. My field experience has accumulated through working with international agencies and development and education programs, in addition to heading and managing institutions concerned with social priorities such as the solidarity economy, child protection, and supporting people in special situations.
My joining the Progress and Socialism Party was not a coincidence, but rather the culmination of a firm conviction in the party's principles and ideas.
Wafaa adds, I saw in this experience an opportunity to actively contribute to serving citizens and advocating for the issues of the residents of Oujda, and to transition from associational and field work to the level of decision-making and political influence.
You are contesting these elections facing significant political entities and material capabilities, how do you deal with these disparities?
Wafaa Taji: We do not hide the logistical and financial constraints, but we rely on the clean record and sincere will of the party's activists and direct communication with the residents.
My experience as a woman leading a local list in Oujda has a special character; it is not just a candidacy, but a challenge to break the stereotype about women's ability to lead the local political arena. We are keen to prove that women constitute an active and initiative-taking force capable of bearing responsibility at the heart of public decision-making.
The political scene is witnessing a decline in the trust of citizens and youth groups, how do you see the way to overcome this gap?
Wafaa Taji: The decline in trust is an undeniable reality, and it has been expressed through various forms of youth abstention and social protests. The solution lies not in withdrawal, but in presenting an alternative political discourse that transcends narrow conflicts and the scramble for positions, making citizens' daily issues, social justice, and development its primary concern.
Trust is regained through practice, listening, and fulfilling commitments, and by opening the doors of political elites to competencies and young cadres without exclusive reliance on closed organizational calculations.
How will you deal with the problem of the gap between electoral promises and field implementation if you reach parliament?
Wafaa Taji: The gap between words and actions is the main reason for public frustration. For me, the discourse must be realistic and responsible, and it should not make promises that exceed the powers and capabilities.
In conclusion, the role of a parliamentarian is not limited to making promises, but extends to legislation, monitoring government work, and continuously advocating for the region's issues. I will be keen to establish a permanent communication mechanism with the residents, based on transparency, which allows citizens to follow up and hold periodic accountability, because responsibility is a commitment and a trust, not a privilege.
