Morocco’s Haraki Group Demands Measurable Government Targets and Stronger Accountability

Morocco’s government programme has come under scrutiny in the House of Councillors, where opposition representatives are calling for clearer commitments, measurable policy targets and stronger mechanisms to hold public officials accountable. During the parliamentary debate on the programme presented by Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri, Younes Mellal of the Haraki Group challenged the government to translate its stated priorities into concrete measures with clearly defined deadlines.

His intervention covered several major public policy areas, including social assistance, healthcare, education, employment, pensions, fuel prices and the fight against corruption. Across these sectors, Mellal’s central demand was that government promises should be accompanied by specific objectives and transparent implementation plans.

Social protection: Beyond algorithms and financial indicators

Mellal placed social protection at the centre of his criticism, arguing that decisions on access to public assistance should not depend exclusively on numerical indicators and automated assessment systems.

He called for a more flexible approach that would account for individual circumstances that administrative data may fail to capture. In his view, effective social support requires mechanisms capable of recognising the realities faced by vulnerable households rather than relying solely on statistical criteria.

The proposed increase in direct social assistance also raised questions. Mellal challenged the government’s timetable for increasing the monthly benefit from 500 dirhams to 1,000 dirhams over five years, questioning whether an annual increase of 100 dirhams would be sufficient to improve living conditions for the poorest households.

He also highlighted concerns over access to medical coverage, referring to figures cited during his speech indicating that approximately four million Moroccans had been excluded from coverage. He urged the authorities to develop solutions that would extend health protection to workers in the informal economy.

Healthcare: More resources for public hospitals and tighter private-sector oversight

The condition of Morocco’s public healthcare system was another major focus of the parliamentary intervention. The Haraki Group called for increased funding, more healthcare personnel and improved access to medical equipment.

Mellal urged the health minister and government officials to visit hospitals across the country's cities and provinces and engage directly with medical professionals to assess operational difficulties.

He specifically referred to the provincial hospital in Meknes, describing it as lacking essential resources, adequate facilities and sufficient personnel to provide patients with satisfactory care. His remarks underscored the need to address disparities in healthcare provision and strengthen the capacity of public hospitals.

The opposition representative also called for stricter supervision of private healthcare providers. He criticised practices that, according to his account, involve requiring patients to provide cheques or pay additional amounts that were not disclosed before admission.

Mellal urged the government to intervene against such practices, highlighting the importance of transparent billing and fair conditions of access to treatment.

The demands point to two complementary challenges: improving the quality and resources of public hospitals while ensuring that private medical facilities operate under effective regulatory oversight.

Education reform: Assessing the pilot schools model

Education featured prominently in Mellal’s assessment of the government's priorities. He argued that the programme lacked a sufficiently comprehensive vision for the development of the education system over the next five years.

He called for a thorough evaluation of Morocco’s pioneering schools programme before any further expansion. Such an assessment, he argued, should identify weaknesses and establish whether the model is delivering the intended improvements.

Mellal also stressed the need to improve Morocco’s performance in national and international education and higher education rankings.

Another issue concerned the age limit of 30 for entry into the teaching profession. He called for a review of the restriction, arguing that it could prevent younger candidates from joining the profession and contributing to the renewal of the education system.

The cost of private education was also raised. Mellal advocated measures to ease the financial burden on families, particularly middle-income households that increasingly turn to private institutions. The issue, he suggested, should be considered as part of a broader effort to improve the accessibility and quality of education.

Employment and pensions: Calls for a clearer timetable

On employment, Mellal questioned the lack of a detailed strategy and timetable for achieving the government's target of creating one million jobs. He called on the executive to specify how many positions it intends to generate during its term and explain how that objective will be reached.

He also drew attention to the millions of young people who remain outside education and employment systems. He advocated targeted programmes reflecting their circumstances and expectations, alongside stronger dialogue between public authorities and young people.

Pension reform was another priority. Mellal requested clarification on the future of existing pension schemes and the proposed increase in minimum pension benefits. He warned against indefinitely postponing structural reforms needed to address the challenges facing pension funds.

For the Haraki Group, these issues require more than broad policy commitments. They call for defined deadlines, clear objectives and explanations of how proposed reforms will be implemented.

Fuel prices: Debate over margins, taxation and refining capacity

Mellal also called for a renewed debate on fuel prices and the measures available to make petroleum products more affordable.

His proposals included examining the possibility of capping profit margins, reviewing the tax framework applied to petroleum products and strengthening strategic fuel reserves.

He also raised the prospect of reviving domestic refining activities or attracting additional investors to support supply and potentially reduce costs for consumers.

These proposals remain requests addressed to the government rather than adopted policy measures. Their implementation would depend on subsequent decisions by the relevant authorities.

Anti-corruption: Accountability at the centre of the debate

The sharpest part of Mellal’s intervention concerned the management of public funds and the fight against corruption. Using the expression “barons in ties,” he denounced what he portrayed as the exploitation of public resources by influential individuals.

He called for investigations into potential irregularities affecting public support programmes, the identification of those responsible and the recovery of funds obtained unlawfully where wrongdoing is established.

Mellal also urged the government to bring the draft legislation on illicit enrichment back onto the agenda. He called for a review of provisions he considers restrictive towards associations and civil society organisations, arguing that they should retain the ability to report suspected misconduct.

His intervention further emphasised the relationship between public responsibility and accountability, as well as the need to prevent conflicts of interest when political officeholders maintain commercial relationships with the state.

These demands place transparency and the oversight of public spending alongside the economic and social issues raised throughout the debate.

Opposition pledges cooperation on policies serving citizens

Despite his criticism, Mellal said the Haraki Group remained prepared to cooperate with the government on initiatives that serve the public interest.

He argued that the opposition should not be defined solely by its resistance to executive action, but should also contribute to improving legislation and public policy.

The debate highlights a broader challenge for the government: turning its programme into a set of commitments that can be assessed against measurable results. From social assistance and healthcare to employment and public integrity, the demands raised by the Haraki Group centre on the need for greater clarity, effective implementation and stronger accountability.

Whether these requests lead to changes in policy will depend on the government's response and the subsequent parliamentary process.