The political bureau of the National Rally of Independents convened on the evening of Friday, May 2, in the city of Dakhla, chaired by Aziz Akhannouch. This meeting marks a new organizational and political phase originating from the south, as part of a national tour that reflects the party’s commitment to proximity and listening, while also opening the door for evaluating achievements and engaging in territorial development challenges.
The meeting, part of the party’s regional encounters, reaffirmed the “Independents'” engagement in consolidating advanced regionalization as a political and institutional choice that goes beyond mere distribution of powers, enabling regions to participate actively in formulating and executing public policies that consider the specificities and expectations of each area.
At the beginning of the meeting, the political bureau praised the ongoing successes of Moroccan diplomacy under King Mohammed VI concerning the Sahara issue, particularly regarding the increasing international recognition of Moroccan sovereignty over the territory, which strengthens the autonomy proposal as a viable and realistic option to resolve the fabricated regional conflict. It also expressed satisfaction with the developmental advancements in the southern provinces, attributable to the developmental model initiated in 2015 with investments exceeding 80 billion dirhams, transforming these provinces into an economic and continental platform open to Africa.
In this context, the party addressed the recent royal initiative allowing Sahel countries access to the Atlantic Ocean, emphasizing the strategic significance of such cooperation in the South-South framework, especially following the King’s meetings with the foreign ministers of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger. This reinforces Morocco’s standing as a reliable regional partner capable of proposing new developmental alternatives in the Sahel region.
Furthermore, the political bureau strongly condemned the continued Israeli aggression against the Gaza Strip and the resulting humanitarian tragedies and systematic violations of international law. It expressed the party’s support for Morocco’s steadfast position, led by King Mohammed VI, Chairman of the Al-Quds Committee, in advocating for the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people to establish their independent state with East Jerusalem as its capital.
On the occasion of Labor Day, the party congratulated the labor force, commending the government’s commitment to implementing the provisions of social dialogue, which has been reflected in wage increases and improved retirement conditions. The total cost of the anticipated wage increases will exceed 45 billion dirhams by 2026, equivalent to the total disbursed by three previous governments. Moreover, the government raised the minimum net salary in the public sector by 50%, from 3,000 to 4,500 dirhams, and the average monthly salary to 10,100 dirhams.
The political bureau also appreciated the achievements of workers in the private sector, notably the 20% increase in the minimum wage in non-agricultural activities and 25% in agriculture, in addition to allowing insured individuals without 3,240 days of insurance to qualify for retirement pensions after lowering the requirement to only 1,320 days, with retroactive effect.
Socially, the party commended the government’s implementation of social protection initiatives, particularly the expansion of mandatory health insurance and the direct support program that benefits over 3.9 million families. It noted the progress in the housing support program, which has enabled more than 48,000 individuals to own their first homes, alongside the government’s adoption of a comprehensive vision to create job opportunities in response to the impact of drought on the labor market.
Organizationally, the party launched a national tour under the slogan “Path of Achievements,” which will include 12 regions and more than 70 municipalities, attended by its ministers and political bureau members, to assess the halfway point of the current term for local councils. The tour will include public discussion meetings as part of the “Independents’ Dialogue” initiative to monitor local performance and enhance mechanisms for engaging with citizens.
