How Ceuta, football and Israel are shaping Morocco's election

Disillusioned young Moroccans are being courted with viral football slogans, promises of one million jobs and anti‑Israel rallying cries ahead of Wednesday’s parliamentary election, as the country reels from a migration surge that saw about 60,000 people risk their lives to cross into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta. The vote will decide the composition of the 395‑seat House of Representatives and, by extension, the next government that will operate under King Mohammed VI’s constitutional monarchy.

The election comes after a wave of Gen Z protests that erupted in September 2025 over unemployment, health care and rising living costs. Demonstrators shouted for “freedom, dignity and social justice” and later demanded the resignation of Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch. More than 2,400 protesters were prosecuted, but the crackdown has pushed some activists into the political arena. Morocco’s economy offers little relief: the International Monetary Fund estimates overall unemployment at 13 % and youth unemployment at a staggering 37.3 % for those aged 15‑24.

Among the new faces is 29‑year‑old Hamza El Kharroubi, a former protester now standing for the little‑known Environment and Sustainable Development Party. He says the Ceuta crossing was a direct result of economic hardship and calls for justice and compensation for the families of the at least 100 people who died. “We have to be in parliament so that by 2031 we have strong young politicians who can compete for a seat in the government,” he told the BBC. Another voice, 32‑year‑old environmental activist Siham Azeroual, expressed no hope for the election, calling the political scene “a complete circus.” Their sentiments echo the frustration of many young Moroccans who feel politics is disconnected from daily reality.

The outcome will test whether the king’s appointment power can accommodate a surge of youthful, reform‑oriented lawmakers. If the new generation secures enough seats, they could pressure the Crown and the ruling party to address unemployment, migration and social justice more aggressively. If not, the status quo may persist, leaving the disaffected youth to seek change outside the parliamentary system.