HIBAPRESS – A. Mahyaoui
The upcoming elections in the Ifrane province come in an exceptional context, marked by a severe cold wave and unprecedented snowfall, which practically revealed the extent of the challenges facing the residents of the mountainous areas, and brought to the forefront the question of political effectiveness and the presence of elected officials and parties in times of hardship.
In recent weeks, a number of communities and villages in the province have experienced temporary isolation due to the closure of road routes and the difficulty of accessing basic services, which made the rapid intervention to open roads and remove snow a decisive factor in alleviating the suffering of the residents. This situation was considered by observers as a real test of the proximity of political actors to the concerns of citizens, away from seasonal speeches and electoral promises.
Local actors believe that these harsh climatic conditions may have a direct impact on the electoral mood of the voters, as the image of who was present in the field to provide support and assistance will remain in the collective memory, and who chose to be absent or suffice with statements. According to observers, the residents will not forget who was by their side in moments of hardship, and contributed to breaking the isolation, opening the routes, and ensuring transportation and basic services.
In return, this stage constitutes a real opportunity for political parties to rebuild trust with citizens, through active involvement in field work, and coordination with local authorities and intervention teams, instead of settling for occasional presence as the election date approaches.
A number of observers agree that this year's elections in the Ifrane province will not be like previous ones, as they will not be decided only by programs and slogans, but by the balance of action on the ground, where snow and severe cold will have an indirect role in directing the choices of voters, and favoring the party or candidate who proved his presence alongside the residents in the most difficult moments.
Pending the election date, the question remains: will the parties understand the lessons of hardship, or will they return to the logic of promises after the storm has passed?
