Throne Speech: Development, Reduction of Disparities, Elections… Time for a Software Upgrade

Placing Morocco in a new momentum in terms of economic and social development, and taking into account the achievements and constraints of the strategies launched in recent years: this is one of the main messages of the speech given by HM the King on the occasion of the celebration of the Throne Day.
This is an opportunity to « take stock of the state of the Nation, by taking stock of the achievements we have made and by summarizing the projects and challenges that await us «, said the Sovereign.
What has been achieved so far is not the result of chance, noted the Sovereign, but rather is linked to a long-term vision, and reflects « the relevance of the major choices made in terms of development». Despite the succession of years of drought and the exacerbation of international crises, the Moroccan economy has maintained a consistent and steady growth rate. This is linked to the «unprecedented industrial revival «. HM the King emphasized the  momentum that has characterized industrial exports in recent years, particularly in Morocco’s global trades. The automotive industry, the aeronautics industry, renewable energy, and other sectors continue to perform well. These sectors «now constitute an essential lever of our emerging economy, both in terms of investment and job creation .»
HM the King also highlighted the progress made in infrastructure. Morocco has a new generation of «modern, robust infrastructure that meets global standards» This is reflected in the new project to extend the LGV (High Speed Rail Line ) to Marrakech, in addition to projects in the areas of water, food, and energy security.

What impact on citizens?

Beyond macroeconomic statistics, the efficiency of development dynamics is measured by its impact on the lives of citizens. «No level of economic and infrastructural development can satisfy me if it does not effectively contribute to improving the living conditions of citizens, regardless of their social group or region»,  said the Sovereign..
HM the King set a new course by calling for the implementation of a new generation of public policies that better target the sources of disparities, taking into account the specificities of each territory, because, He said, «it is regrettable to see that certain areas, especially in rural areas, still endure forms of poverty and insecurity, due to the lack of infrastructure and basic equipment». This situation «does not reflect the full extent of the efforts we are making to strengthen social development and achieve spatial justice». For HM the King» there is no room, neither today nor tomorrow, for a Morocco moving forward at two speeds «,  hence the need for a software update, for rethinking the way to operate.
«It is time to initiate a real leap forward in the overall upgrading of territorial spaces and in catching up on social and spatial disparities»,  insisted the Sovereign. The Government, elected councils, as well as the various stakeholders, whether at the central or territorial level, are called upon to imagine new approaches.
The goal is to «move from the classic frameworks of social development to an approach in terms of integrated territorial development» This will help to reduce disparities between regions, and even within regions.
The Government is thus expected to develop a new generation of territorial development programs.

Electoral laws before the end of the year

On the political front, HM the King stressed the importance of starting preparations for the upcoming elections now. With almost one year to go before the 2026 legislative elections, the Sovereign called for the projects related to this election to be finalized as soon as possible . «We insist on the need to prepare the General Election Code for the House of Representatives, so that it can be adopted and brought to the attention of the public before the end of the current year « . This is one of the main legislative projects of the parliamentary term.

Pooling efforts

In the new vision of territorial development, the programs that will be implemented must be designed according to a logic of coherence and convergence of the interventions of the different stakeholders. Indeed, these programs «must be able to count on the pooling of efforts by all stakeholders and on their articulation around clearly defined priorities and projects generating real impacts».
This includes strengthening employment and creating new jobs, particularly by focusing on developing the regional economic potential, while improving the business climate at the local level to encourage investment attraction and strengthen entrepreneurial dynamics. Basic social services must also be taken into account in this new «package», particularly education and health. Another strategic issue to be taken into account in the new approach: water security. HM the King called for the adoption of a proactive and sustainable water resource management model, in the face of worsening water stress and climate change.

Morocco-Algeria: A «common destiny»

In Morocco’s diplomatic relations, beyond the progress made in defending the issue of territorial integrity, HM the King insisted on the need to be and remain open to the regional environment, particularly the immediate neighborhood. Despite Algeria’s hostile maneuvers, Morocco continues to demonstrate wisdom and common sense. The Sovereign reiterated the hand extended to Algeria. Morocco is always willing to engage in «frank and responsible», «fraternal and sincere dialogue» on the various outstanding issues between the two countries.
HM the King reiterated that the Maghreb Union cannot be achieved without the joint involvement of Morocco and Algeria. In this approach, the Kingdom, which has made significant progress in supporting the Sahara Autonomy Initiative, does not want to rely solely on these positions in favor of law and legitimacy. This support further encourages « the search for a consensual solution that saves face for all parties, where there will be neither a winner nor a lose».

Mohamed Ali MRABI