In the Moroccan constitution, several chapters are devoted to citizenship and participation, in particular chapter 12, which emphasises the role of associations within the framework of participatory democracy. Articles 14 and 15 grant the right to all citizens and civil society organisations to submit petitions for legislation. Article 136 requests the territorial councils to set up participatory mechanisms for dialogue and consultation to facilitate the participation of citizens and associations in the preparation and follow-up of development programs.
The statistics of the High Commissioner for Planning (an official body in charge of economic and social statistics and surveys) have however revealed that 70 percent of young people in Morocco do not trust the feasibility of political action. Five percent do not believe in partisan work and only one percent of them engage in political action within the established political parties. This shows clearly in numbers the reluctance of young people to engage in the political sector despite available laws and legal mechanisms. This leads us to have a loss of confidence in the political parties and in their electoral programs, which oftentimes either way contribute to youth dissatisfaction.
Unlike previous generations who, despite difficult circumstances on the ground took the initiative to engage in electoral participation and cared about the country’s public affairs through a range of channels such as parties, unions, federations, clubs, and the media, the new generation simply show less of an interest in participating in politics.
