Morocco’s National Rally of Independents (RNI) launched its opposition role on Wednesday by accusing the new government of reproducing the policies and projects of its predecessor, arguing that the continuity demonstrated the previous administration had laid the foundations for major national reforms.
Speaking during a parliamentary session devoted to discussing the government program presented by Head of Government Fatima Zahra Mansouri on Monday, Mohamed Bakouri, head of the RNI group in the House of Councillors, pointed to social protection, direct social assistance and structural reforms in health and education as examples of continuity.
He described this as an acknowledgment of the effectiveness of the previous government’s public policies, arguing that no administration, regardless of its political orientation, could ignore their results.
Bakouri said the government’s program emphasized preserving achievements and completing major reforms over the next five years. He argued that its commitments reflected a continuation of the previous administration’s approach, raising questions about the ruling party’s electoral pledge to change course.
“We expected a political government, as it describes itself, to offer an innovative vision, creative solutions and new approaches to address the challenges and pressures facing the country,” Bakouri said, adding that the program appeared to lack an alternative economic, social and development model capable of meeting the aspirations of young people and future generations.
He also criticized what he described as a failure to distinguish between a declaration of intentions and the government program required under the Constitution. In his view, Mansouri’s presentation relied more on broad ambitions than on measurable indicators, precise targets, implementation feasibility and identified funding sources.
RNI questions social assistance and pension reforms
The RNI group, which is entering opposition for the first time during the 2021-2027 parliamentary term in the House of Councillors, also expressed concern over what it called a significant deterioration in social policy.
Bakouri questioned the government’s commitment to gradually increase direct social assistance from MAD 500 to MAD 1,000 by the end of its term, arguing that postponing the target until the end of the mandate raised questions about whether the program could be used to serve electoral interests and undermine equal opportunities among political parties.
He also criticized the absence of what he described as a clear, comprehensive vision for pension reform, which affects more than four million contributors, and pointed to the lack of a defined timetable.
On education, Bakouri welcomed the government’s commitment to continue expanding the “Pioneer Schools” program, saying this validated the previous administration’s decision to launch the initiative. He called for further increases in the education budget, while arguing that the new government had yet to present a clear and comprehensive vision for the health sector.
He concluded that most of the proposed measures in these areas fell within the framework of structural reforms already initiated by the previous government.
PAM defends continuity while calling for corrective reforms
The Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM), part of the governing majority, rejected claims that the new administration was simply a continuation of its predecessor.
The party’s parliamentary group in the House of Councillors said such assessments misrepresented the distinction between political responsibilities, policy visions and governments’ respective capacity to deliver reforms. It argued that the current administration had presented different commitments and a renewed political discourse.
Speaking on behalf of the group, its head, Abdelkrim El Hems, said the government had pledged to preserve existing achievements, complete major projects and address shortcomings. He described this as a normal responsibility for any new administration operating within the continuity of state institutions.
In established democracies, El Hems argued, a new government builds on the point at which its predecessor left off rather than starting from scratch.
He said the administration’s ability to identify and directly address existing shortcomings would be key to distinguishing it from previous governments.
El Hems described the government program as realistic and said it responded to the country’s domestic economic and social difficulties as well as international financial, economic and geopolitical pressures.
He praised what he called a clear reordering of priorities around purchasing power, health, education and other economic and social objectives.
The PAM group highlighted several central pillars of the program, including strengthening the rule of law and institutions, improving integrity in public life, combating economic rent-seeking, reinforcing national identity and social cohesion, restoring purchasing power, integrating young people into education, training and decent employment, safeguarding strategic sovereignty and building an economy capable of financing the country’s social and strategic ambitions.
Socialist Union backs government’s social agenda
The Socialist Union of Popular Forces (USFP), which moved from opposition into the governing majority following the latest legislative elections, expressed support for the program’s emphasis on social policy.
Youssef Aidi, head of the party’s parliamentary group, said the program’s social commitments aligned with the USFP’s principles of social justice, solidarity, equal opportunities and equitable development.
He argued that a decent standard of living requires more than a minimum income, encompassing fair access to health care, education, housing, water, transport and public services, as well as the protection of human dignity throughout life.
Aidi welcomed the program’s stated shift from expanding social coverage toward improving service quality, integrating separate programs and ensuring that investment delivers tangible results.
On health care, he backed commitments to accelerate universal health coverage, ensure the sustainability of compulsory health insurance and move beyond formal coverage toward effective, equitable and continuous access to quality services.
He said achieving these goals would require addressing regional disparities in health care provision, improving reception and emergency services, strengthening health-sector staffing, formalizing patient care pathways and developing the national health information system.
The right to health coverage, he said, remains incomplete if people cannot obtain appointments, must travel long distances for treatment or face costs beyond their means.
Social assistance, widows’ pensions and minimum retirement benefits
Aidi also welcomed plans to better target social assistance according to actual income and gradually raise payments from MAD 500 to MAD 1,000 by the end of the government’s term. He said the program should also support social inclusion and expand access to unemployment compensation.
He highlighted a proposed automatic social benefit for eligible households whose monthly electricity bill for their primary residence does not exceed MAD 100, describing it as a step toward simplifying administrative procedures and bringing public services closer to citizens.
However, he stressed that successful implementation would depend on accurate eligibility assessments, accessible procedures, clear conditions, appeal mechanisms and the protection of personal data.
The USFP group also welcomed a commitment to increase widows’ pensions to 100% of the main pension to which their deceased spouses were entitled, compared with the current 50%, while safeguarding the rights of orphans and other beneficiaries.
Aidi further endorsed plans to gradually raise the minimum main pension to MAD 3,000 per month across pension systems.
He called for clear implementation timelines and sustainable financing to protect acquired rights and reduce economic vulnerability, particularly among women who assume greater family responsibilities after losing a household provider.
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