Nearly half of Moroccans (43%) oppose the daylight saving time (GMT+1), which the country has kept permanently since 2018, according to a recent study released by Group Sunergia and the L’Economiste.
This resistance is strongest among younger adults aged between 25 and 44, urban residents, and higher-income groups.
Originally introduced to align Morocco with global markets and improve energy efficiency, the move, the same source said, “remains controversial, with many citizens saying it disrupts their daily routines and affects their well-being.”
The study showed that only 28% of Moroccans support GMT+1, including 22% who strongly agree.
Support is higher among older adults aged between 55 and 64 and those in lower socioeconomic categories.
Only 17% of Moroccans believe daylight saving time has a positive impact on their lives, mainly among people aged between 55 and 64.
But 40% of Moroccans say GMT+1 affects their lives negatively, especially young adults aged 25–44, urban residents, and those in higher socioeconomic classes.
In late 2018, the Moroccan government approved a decree to make daylight saving time permanent, changing its clocks based on Ramadan, sparking backlash and student protests in several cities. The move was later upheld by the Constitutional Court in March 2019, stating “it fell within the powers of the executive branch.”
Despite the government’s emphasis that the time change is beneficial for energy savings and aligning with international partners, many citizens and civil groups are voicing concerns about the negative impact of daylight saving time.
Several countries have recently returned to their standard time, abandoning daylight saving practices in favor of a consistent year-round clock, including Russia, Azerbaijan, Brazil, China, Mexico, and Egypt.
Earlier this week, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announced that Spain will push the European Union to abolish the twice-yearly switch to summer time, saying, “I no longer see any reason for this.”
He emphasized that the measure does not save energy and only disrupts human biological rhythms twice a year.
A 2018 non-representative survey by the European Commission found that 84 percent of EU citizens opposed the time change.
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