On September 30, 2025, the General Secretariat of the Justice and Development Party (PJD) issued a statement titled “Statement of Duty and National Interest” in response to the violence accompanying youth protests in several Moroccan cities. This move reflects deep concern over the serious developments related to demonstrations by Generation Z.
The statement followed an emergency meeting led by Secretary-General Abdelilah Benkirane, who urged young people to cease protests, asserting that their legitimate demands had been met.
On September 27, 2025, hundreds of young people from Generation Z took to the streets in cities like Rabat, Marrakech, Tangier, Casablanca, Agadir, and Taounate, under the slogan “Generation Z 212,” calling for major reforms in education, health, unemployment, culture, and youth. Some gatherings escalated into violent clashes with security forces, resulting in arrests and damage to public and private property, raising concerns about further escalation.
This grassroots movement, which emerged through social media without a defined leadership, represents a growing frustration over “social and regional disparities” and “government mismanagement,” as noted by international media.
In its statement, the party highlighted that these protests are rooted in the significant failures and shortcomings of the current government, citing ineffective reforms in education and training, privatization of health services, exclusion of millions from mandatory health coverage, and the lack of a program to reduce social disparities. It criticized the government for failing to prioritize employment.
The party also condemned a cultural policy that “promotes triviality and banality” to distract youth, pervasive nepotism and favoritism in hiring, the halt of anti-corruption efforts, and the practice of “unilateralism and lack of consultation” in strategic legislation.
The PJD held the government “fully responsible” for the current situation due to its “weakness, inability, and silence” in the face of repeated warnings, and for “promoting achievements and figures that do not resonate in reality.”
The statement criticized the majority leadership for reverting to the “narratives of previous governments” during its latest meeting on September 30, viewing it as a “lack of basic political sensitivity,” particularly as the government nears the end of its term after four years and includes parties with prior responsibility in these sectors.
Additionally, the party reiterated Benkirane’s call for youth to “respect the constitution and national constants,” exercising their rights responsibly and avoiding violence or damage to property, asserting that “their message has been received and delivered.” It urged public authorities to respect the freedoms of peaceful protest and to implement “security governance” with a spirit of inclusivity, demanding the release of “all detained youth” without evidence of destructive actions, to de-escalate tensions.
Finally, the statement emphasized that “the time has come for a sincere review of our democratic and developmental path,” calling on the state, political parties, and citizens to engage in a serious political process that includes youth, aimed at achieving a comprehensive rights-based breakthrough culminating in the organization of “free and fair elections” capable of establishing strong institutions to address disparities, combat corruption, and ensure equitable distribution of wealth and opportunities, thus opening “a door of hope for youth.”
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