Morocco's Youth Turn to Ballot Box After Gen Z Protests
Morocco holds its first parliamentary elections since deadly Gen Z protests, with young former demonstrators among the candidates.
Morocco is holding parliamentary elections on Wednesday, its first since a wave of Gen Z protests swept several cities in late 2025. The demonstrations, which drew attention to demands for better healthcare, education, employment and public services, also took aim at corruption.
Young Moroccans who took part in those protests, and others who crossed borders in search of opportunity, are now turning to the ballot box. Among the candidates is Younes Belaidi, 29, a former protest participant running for the Progress and Socialism Party in Casablanca's Ain Chock district. He works for the Moroccan Organization for Human Rights.
Speaking during campaigning, Belaidi said young people must engage with the political process in large numbers. "To solve the problem, we, young people, must participate strongly and in large numbers," he said.
A total of 7,288 candidates from 27 political parties are competing for 395 seats in the House of Representatives.
Fellow party member Aymane Saissi, who also joined the Gen Z protests, described his expectations as measured but not without hope. "I cannot say that I have a lot of hope, but there is hope that the next government will launch projects that will enable us to achieve our basic demands, especially health, education and a decent life," he said.
Also watching the vote closely is Ayoub Belaidi, 23, who crossed into Ceuta during this summer's mass migration before returning to Morocco. He said his decision to leave was driven by a search for freedom, new cultures and opportunities, but that he encountered hardship in the Spanish enclave. "We experienced a state of emergency during the first three days. We had no food and no place to sleep," he said.
The election comes against a backdrop of deep economic concern among young Moroccans. Official data put youth unemployment among those aged 15 to 24 at 37% in 2025, compared with an overall rate of 13%.
Although people aged 18 to 24 make up roughly 12% of the country's population, they account for just 4% of its 15.8 million registered voters — a gap that gives this week's ballot particular significance for a generation that has already taken to the streets.