馃嚥馃嚘MoroccoNorth Africa
Government details financial support for young electoral candidates
via Le Matin2 min read
The government has outlined the procedures for financially supporting the political participation of young people. During a government council meeting on Thursday, April 16, 2026, a draft decree was approved, setting the conditions for public funding for candidate lists aged 35 and under in the general elections for the House of Representatives. The Minister of Interior presented this text, which extends the provisions of the organic law related to the House of Representatives, aiming to enhance youth representation in the legislative body. Government spokesperson Mustapha Baitas stated that this measure implements Article 23 of the organic law concerning the House of Representatives and seeks to strengthen youth representation. The decree applies to candidates under 35, whether affiliated with political parties or independent, and covers local and regional constituencies. It specifies the application and allocation procedures for this public financial support, intended to help fund electoral campaigns. To ensure traceability, candidates must open a dedicated bank account for each list to monitor resources and expenditures during the campaign. They will also be required to submit their campaign accounts to the Court of Accounts, certified by a chartered accountant, within legal deadlines. The financial support is capped, not exceeding 75% of the legal limit for electoral expenses, nor 75% of the expenses actually incurred and validated by control bodies. Through this measure,
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The government is addressing repayment difficulties faced by some beneficiaries of the Forsa program, which has supported over 21,000 project holders since its launch. The program emphasizes accompaniment, with nearly 16,000 projects currently active due to monitoring, supervision, and coaching. For entrepreneurs experiencing constraints in meeting repayment deadlines, the government offers the option to request credit rescheduling based on individual situations, providing additional time to consolidate activities. Between June 2025 and June 2026, 4,600 rescheduling requests were filed. To date, approximately 1,400 beneficiaries have completed the necessary steps to defer loan repayments for up to twelve months, following an amendment to their loan and guarantee contracts. Other requests are still under review by financial institutions in coordination with regional stakeholders. The support system for the first edition of the program, launched in 2022, is provided by financial institutions and regional offices, while incubators support project holders from the second edition, initiated in 2023. These measures aim to sustain the entrepreneurial momentum of the Forsa program and reduce business failures, highlighting post-financing support as crucial for project longevity.
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