Morocco's 2026 elections: Economist Kamal Zine calls for clear economic programs and private sector investment

As Morocco approaches its 2026 legislative elections, economist Kamal Zine emphasizes the need for political parties to present clear, quantified economic programs, moving beyond general slogans. He states that the primary challenge for the 2026 elections will be voter participation, especially among young people, which can only be achieved through concrete proposals with precise objectives, realistic timelines, and identified funding. Zine highlights that Moroccans now expect detailed programs demonstrating both promises and implementation strategies. He also advises political parties to integrate alternative scenarios into their proposals, considering international uncertainties like inflation, geopolitical tensions, energy price fluctuations, and global economic slowdowns. Zine believes the fundamental goal for Morocco in the coming years is to achieve emerging economy status by 2035, as outlined in the new development model NMD. He argues that the NMD needs updating, citing the unachieved annual growth target of 6-7% despite massive public investment. He questions why investment efforts are not yielding expected growth results. Zine notes that the Moroccan economy is still heavily reliant on public investment, contrary to the NMD's vision for 2035 where two-thirds of investment should come from the private sector. He advocates for a progressive debt reduction strategy to preserve national sovereignty, clarifying that this does not mean ceasing borrowing, as Morocco mainta