A plan by a prominent activist to turn Morocco’s Gen Z protest movement into a political party has triggered sharp backlash from within the movement, exposing internal divisions over how far the youth-led mobilization should go after eight days of nationwide demonstrations.
The controversy erupted after political economist and columnist Rachid Achachi announced online the creation of a “Party of Youth and the People,” describing it as a natural extension of the decentralized “Gen Z 212” movement that has rallied thousands across Moroccan cities over demands for better education, healthcare, and job opportunities.
“This youth awakening must make a qualitative leap,” Achachi said on Instagram. “It’s time to build a new political force.”
But the idea was immediately rejected by the movement’s core organizers, who operate anonymously through the social platform Discord. In a public statement, they accused Achaâchi of “misrepresenting” their cause and “trying to appropriate” a leaderless initiative.
“We explained that creating a party is impossible,” the group said. “You are neither our founder nor our representative. Our voice is heard precisely because it is not tied to any organization.”
The “Gen Z 212” network has become one of Morocco’s most visible grassroots movements in years, fueled by viral videos and coordinated through online platforms. Its members are part of a generation that feels disillusioned with politics.
According to Morocco’s Interior Ministry, only about 8 percent of voters under 35 participated in the 2021 parliamentary elections.
Inside the movement’s Discord channels, members have debated whether political participation could bring tangible reform. Some users have explored how Moroccan elections work, from campaign financing to party registration, while others argued that creating a party would undermine the movement’s independence.
Forming a political party in Morocco involves complex legal steps, including securing 300 founding signatures, establishing offices across at least half the country’s regions, and obtaining formal recognition from the Interior Ministry.
Analysts say those barriers often discourage independent initiatives and keep new actors from entering the formal political arena.
“Young Moroccans see politics as distant, bureaucratic, and compromised. Their demands are social, not partisan, ” said political analyst Cherifa Elmouir.
Elmouir said the government’s recent outreach to labor unions, including those representing healthcare workers, signals that officials are paying attention to youth-driven pressure but are still cautious about formal recognition.
“They know these protests have changed the conversation,” she added. “But they also know institutionalizing them could dilute their energy.”
The debate recalls the fallout from Morocco’s 2011 February 20 protests, when young activists briefly mobilized for political reform before splintering amid disagreements over organization and leadership.
“The aversion to party politics is not new,” said Jamal Lâasri, secretary-general of the Unified Socialist Party. “Even in 2011, youth chanted ‘the politician is dead.’ Some joined parties later, but mistrust never disappeared.”
This time, the discontent appears to run deeper, because unlike the organized factions of a decade ago, Gen Z 212 is leaderless, digital, and ideologically diffuse, its messages spreading faster than traditional parties can respond.
Government officials have acknowledged the scale of participation, noting that minors made up a large share of demonstrators in some cities, a sign of how broadly the protests resonated.
add your comment
Terms of publication : Not to offend the writer, people, sacred things, or attack religions or the divine self, and refrain from racist incitement and insults.