Rabat- With the approaching electoral entitlements for the year 2026, and in light of Morocco’s preparations to host the 2030 World Cup finals, competition between political parties over who will lead the next government, in a scene that reflects the contrast of visions between the majority and opposition parties over the features of the next stage.
The term “the World Cup government” is repeated in the Moroccan political discourse, and raises questions about its nature, whether it is a government that temporarily runs the World Cup file? Or is it supposed to make it a development start?
Political analyst Mohamed Choucair believes that Moroccan governments are constitutionally emanating from the elections and appointed by the king, and classified through the name of the prime minister, and therefore the use of this term falls within political and electoral competition, and it is also inaccurate, because Morocco will organize the global event in conjunction with other countries.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q0hloka-3q8
The possibility of meaning
Shuqair adds to Al -Jazeera Net that the launch of this term may be with the aim of attracting voters and reducing electoral reluctance, especially with the passion of youth in football.
For his part, political science professor Abdullah Abu Awad Al -Hassani says that the term is possible for two concerns, either that the next government will supervise the organization of the event, or that it will bear the burden of development programs and structural reforms that were developed to receive the World Cup, that is, it is the “government of development programs”.
He adds to Al -Jazeera Net that the largest beneficiary of the World Cup will be the infrastructure and the tourism sector, but it warns that development rates in the developing countries that hosted the World Cup were weak compared to the media noise that precedes the event.
When reviewing the speeches of parties influencing the political scene, we find that the governmental majority parties formed by the National Rally of Independents, Asala, Contemporary and Independence Party aspire to continue to continue and lead the next stage, while the opposition parties demand a fundamental change and the secretion of a new government with a different approach.
With pride, Morocco, Spain, and Portugal were chosen to host the 2030 World Cup by FIFA. The government, under royal directives, is working to make this event an opportunity to enhance the economy, tourism, job opportunities, and to promote peace and sustainable development. pic.twitter.com/usamjg4zs9
– The Moroccan government (@moroccanov) December 11, 2024
Slogans
The National Rally of Independents Party (leading the current government) considered that the aspects of weakness lie in the opposition, and that it will lead the government until the year 2032 thanks to its achievements.
While the Authenticity and Modernity Party seeks to lead the next government to “download the ambitious party project”, the Independence Party calls for not to engage in an early electoral conflict over the presidency of the government, but stressed the right of his party to lead the next political scene.
On the part of the opposition, the Progress and Socialism Party stressed that it will present a “alternative program that starts from listening to the demands of citizens”, while the Socialist Union of Popular Forces believes that democracy needs a “real revival”, calling for the organization of fair elections, in which priority is granted to the “World Cup people” instead of being preoccupied with the “World Cup government.”
As for the Justice and Development Party, it considered that the current government “has fallen politically and if it remains constitutional”, and stressed that it is preparing for the upcoming elections with confidence, based on “the people’s wrapping around the ethical and political project.”
While the Popular Movement Party criticized the majority parties, considering that their announcement of early electoral intentions is a “provocation to Moroccans”, at a time when “citizens’ preoccupations with high costs and decline in basic services are exacerbated.”
Political auctions
In the midst of these statements, urgent questions arise about the readiness of the parties and their political and electoral backgrounds.
The professor of constitutional law, Abdel Hafeez Al -Younesi, believes that the political discourse in Morocco, and since the 2011 elections, focuses heavily on electoral campaigns without sufficient attention to the effectiveness of government performance after its formation.
He tells Al -Jazeera Net that mortgaging the development process of electoral projects a year or two of the elections “unreasonable”, and indicates “an unacceptable party culture.”
He notes that the competition between parties is mainly around the nail of seats and not about development ideas or projects, which is concerned about the ability of the parties to raise the level of the coming period, which is distinguished by this global event.
While the political and strategic expert, Moulay Hisham, believes that the current party debate, despite his active appearance, does not exceed political auctions, describing him as a exercise in “public relations” more than that he provides strategic alternatives.
In his interview with Al -Jazeera Net, he sees the necessity of moving parties from the promotional language to presenting realistic perceptions about the management of the World Cup logistics and the development of the participating parties. Otherwise, the “World Cup government” may be just a government of technocrats with a political cover.
The official role
On the other hand, opinions differ on the influence of political parties on the “World Cup 2030” projects in Morocco, and is it an active partner or just a margin in the state plan?
The academic believes that the Moroccan state has sufficient tools to reduce the repercussions of party conflicts, especially in major projects.
It is proposed to activate the mechanisms of control and administrative and financial accountability with complete independence, stressing that the state’s intervention is necessary when partisan conflicts obstruct development programs, with the aim of rearranging priorities according to the interest of the citizen.
It calls to enhance the logic of institutions on narrow partisan accounts, and to strengthen the “public interest” culture, especially in major stations such as preparing for the World Cup.
While the analyst Choucair goes further, considering that the World Cup organization is a main project, and that all projects related to its organization have been assigned to a special committee, and therefore the parties that entered into a premature electoral campaign have a premature focus on the social and economic demands of citizens.
In turn, the Yosanic academic asserts that the government bears full responsibility in downloading public policies, including the World Cup projects, through official channels, and this means that the political responsibility of the government exists, as well as the responsibility of the parties that constitute its coalition.
On the other hand, the strong presence of the state and the royal establishment confirms in overseeing these projects, and this does not prevent the responsibility to hold accountability in previous projects that were under its supervision, as happened with officials, including ministers.
Ben Abdullah: “Is there a real involvement in the issue of the opposition and the accountability of this government and its accountability, and even its trial for its failure to manage public affairs, and in many files and we will undoubtedly come back to that, or is this engagement not present in the depth, and that there are other things that do not appear now?” pic.twitter.com/zmijo2ftp0
– PPS – Party of Progress and Socialism (@PSofficiel) May 20, 2025
The influence and role of the opposition
In addition to the responsibility of the state and the formed parties of the government, the role of the supervisory opposition is also highlighted to ensure an optimal willingness to embrace the World Cup.
The expert notes that this opposition, despite its bold voices, is often limited to immediate reactions or media debates, instead of submitting analytical reports and real alternatives, which turns it into a mere protest expression without an actual impact on the implementation of public policies.
The opposition calls for updating the tools of its work to monitor the huge World Cup projects, to turn into a suggestive force that provides clear alternatives and supported by facts, which may restore credibility and affect the electoral balances of 2026.
While the analyst Choucair confirms that the opposition can focus on the government’s accountability about the extent of the benefit of the rest of the regions outside the hub of the World Cup, and also demanding to improve the conditions of marginalized groups and prevent businessmen from exploiting the matter.
As for the academic Abu Awad Ferry, the opposition was “woke up late”, but its work in evaluating government work remains essential, especially since the foresight of the future in tracking major projects requires the valuation of the concept of the opposition in political affairs, so that the path of the upcoming elections is compatible with political aspirations, and stressed that the upcoming elections are “completely different from their predecessors.”
