Why did Morocco's Gen-Z not show up to vote?

Another election is over in Morocco. But where were the voters?

The parties were all there, the media were there, the unions, parliament, the mosques, the zawiyas, all there. But the people?

Only 38% of the 15.8 million registered voters in a nation of 38 million turned up on the day. That means that less than one in four Moroccans eligible to vote chose the fate of a whole nation.

We saw some dancing, singing, eating, and feasting. Some, apparently, even received their recompense for agreeing to remain silent for another five years, or at least until the next anti-government protest.

But where were the others? Where were the remaining voters?

They have been campaigning too. In fact, they have been campaigning for years. But despite being very vocal, they seem unable to reach the ballot box.

A year ago, youth-led protests known as GenZ 212, took over the streets. "Health first, we don't want the World Cup", they chanted. They also demanded education and dignity in a nation where unemployment among 15–24-year-olds reached 37.2% in 2025.

However, the authorities quashed the mass movement. Authorities arrested around 5700 people in the early days of the protests. The new generation of voters was temporarily forced back underground through mass indiscriminate arrests, harassment, a few coups de pied, and a lot of Hogra (oppression).

A deepening sense of despair left many Moroccans hopeless, so much so that they headed toward the Mediterranean Sea, seeking a better fate. Entire families, men, women and children, people with disabilities, even seniors attempted to reach Ceuta. Some climbed the mountains surrounding the colonised city. Some swam, and others rushed the border.

Almost synchronously, tens of thousands moved toward the promised land, where, perhaps, there would be more room than in Moroccan prisons.

Unfortunately, it was far from the promised land they’d wished for.

The Spaniards starved the newcomers. And among the potential voters, over 60,000 arrived, some proclaiming “¡Viva España!”, but less than 24 hours later, many were forced back to Morocco, heartbroken, carrying tragic news from the so-called civilised world that dozens had died before reaching the shore.

Following these terrible events, on 9 August the call was made to return to the streets to demand decent living conditions and improvements to people’s social and economic realities.

However, this time hardly anyone showed up. The protectors of the ballot did, both the visible and the invisible ones, but the new voters had learned their lesson. Partially, at least.

Once the authorities warned of foreign-backed manipulation, everyone backed down from joining any protests.

Unsurprisingly, among the youth able to vote, only 4% were registered, despite representing 16,2% of the population.

Could you blame voters for their absence given the state of the government in recent years?

After all, where were their leaders while they marched, again and again, against the genocide in Gaza since 2023? Where was the government when GenZ 212 protestors were desperately demanding the right to a future? Where was the government when tens of thousands decided to jump into the Mediterranean, knowing they might never leave the water?

It seems those at the top had other priorities.

Just look at our unelected foreign minister, Nasser Bourita, who sat down with his Israeli counterpart to advance diplomatic relations and open embassies in both countries against the backdrop of mass demonstrations for the people of Palestine.

No, those claiming to represent us have never consulted us, especially on the occupation.

In fact, just days following the elections, protestors in solidarity with Palestine occupied the streets of Tangier and were met with aggressive repression by authorities.

One element of the elections was celebrated when the king appointed Fatima Zahra El Mansouri as Morocco’s first woman Prime Minister. This was reported as a victory for North African, Amazigh and Muslim women. Nevertheless, even this is bittersweet. El Mansouri is a former minister, mayor of Marrakech, daughter of a pacha, and a leading figure in the Parti Authenticité et Modernité (PAM), the party of the notables, whose political manoeuvres many have denounced since 2011.

This was a ‘feminist milestone’ that has simply renewed the political dominance of the country’s notables.

And our dead in the Mediterranean Sea? They couldn’t even inspire a letter of condolence to families. Not even the thousands of sisters and brothers murdered in Gaza remotely interrupted business as usual.

Another election is over. But was power in Morocco ever up for election?     

Ismail El Mouttaki is a PhD Researcher in the Department of Political Science and Sociology at the Scuola Normale Superiore (SNS) in Florence, Italy. His research explores the relational dynamics between social movements and authoritarian regimes during intense and ordinary times, with a specific focus on strategies of (de)mobilisation and tactical innovations in authoritarian contexts.

Follow Ismail on LinkedIn.

Have questions or comments? Email us at: editorial-english@newarab.com

Opinions expressed in this article remain those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of The New Arab, its editorial board or staff.