HIBAPRESS – Rabat
When the National Rally of Independents (RNI) party led the government at the beginning of this legislative term, the challenges were not merely about managing passing crises, but about consolidating the foundations of the social state and transforming public administration in Morocco.
Today, as we reflect on the path taken, the realities on the ground are evident in numbers and indicators. What some once considered high commitments in the 2021 electoral pledges has become a tangible reality, reshaping the quality of life for citizens.
This government term, led by Aziz Akhannouch, has witnessed an unprecedented social transformation in the history of public administration in the Kingdom. This transformation is reflected in live data rather than slogans: a decisive qualitative leap that increased the number of citizens covered by compulsory health insurance from 9 million to over 32 million. Direct social support has been directed to more than 4 million Moroccan families, who now receive amounts ranging from 500 to 1200 dirhams per month, a stark contrast to the "zero dirhams" received in previous government experiences.
All of this has been achieved alongside a comprehensive restructuring of the health system, through the rehabilitation of over 1400 primary healthcare centers and the establishment of new university and regional hospitals in all provinces of the Kingdom.
Since social justice is incomplete without human capital development, the government has placed the education sector at the forefront. This has been achieved not only through intensive recruitment and the practical implementation of the "Pioneering Institutions" model but also through fulfilling commitments to improve livelihoods. Salaries for teachers, doctors, and university professors have been increased by amounts ranging between 2500 and 3000 dirhams per month.
This dynamic has had a developmental impact on the local economy in various regions. For instance, in the Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima region, approximately two thousand new companies have emerged, injecting young talent into the job market. This has made the ultimate goal of creating one million jobs a fully achievable option.
A fair assessment of these and many other achievements must consider the complex context in which the Akhannouch government was formed; the path was not paved with roses. The government faced a series of harsh and compounding crises: continued inflationary pressures and international economic fluctuations, alongside structural drought resulting from seven consecutive years of low rainfall, which directly impacted the agricultural sector and its livestock (explaining the exceptional import support to ensure the supply for Eid al-Adha). This was compounded by natural disasters such as the Al Haouz earthquake and floods in the southeast. Despite all these shocks, the government chose the path of responsibility, refraining from political "whining" or attributing challenges to regional and international circumstances. Instead, it continued to implement structural reforms and protect purchasing power.
Furthermore, the link between government decisions and the daily pulse of the street was most clearly demonstrated recently in the brave decision to permanently abolish daylight saving time and revert to the Kingdom's standard time (GMT). This measure proved the leading party's ability to listen to and respond to the concerns of citizens and their psychological and physical well-being.
Today, with the end of the government's legislative term, time emerges as the sole decisive factor that prevented the completion of a portion of the ambitious open structural projects. Therefore, the upcoming electoral contest takes on the dimension of a new and continuous contract. This contract will allow the Independents to complete the implementation of social state projects through their electoral program, "Dignity and Opportunities for All." This program prioritizes achievable commitments, such as progressively increasing the minimum wage to 5000 dirhams, protecting the rights of contract workers and employees, and expanding job opportunities for youth.
What has been achieved between 2021 and 2026 is practical proof that fulfilling promises is not impossible when political will and good governance are present. Hence, the RNI believes that renewing trust in its members is not just a political choice, but a guarantee for the continuation of this momentum, the ongoing building of a Morocco of opportunities and dignity, and the completion of the grand development plan so that it yields its fruits in every home and institution.
