Morocco’s 2026 election — Istiqlal gives Moroccans abroad a clearer place, led by youth and skills

A national programme with real points of entry for the diaspora

Presented in Rabat on 29 August under the slogan “My Country, My Future,” Istiqlal’s programme rests on five pillars: protecting shared values and family cohesion; fighting corruption, rent-seeking and conflicts of interest; supporting purchasing power and the middle class; strengthening public schools, hospitals and other public services; and reinforcing Morocco’s strategic sovereignty.

The public summaries available so far do not present Moroccans abroad as a stand-alone pillar. Yet the programme goes beyond ceremonial references to the diaspora.

A thematic overview published by the Istiqlal points to a proposed “Charter for Moroccans of the World.” That wording matters. A charter could bring coherence to policies currently scattered across political participation, administration, investment, culture and social protection.

Its value, however, will depend on what it contains. As of this MMNEWS review, no complete downloadable version of the 2026–2031 programme setting out the charter’s rights, delivery mechanisms, timetable and responsible authorities could be found on the party’s official downloads page.

MMNEWS therefore treats the charter as a positive, identifiable diaspora commitment — but not yet as a fully operational package.

The strongest area: younger generations and belonging

Istiqlal’s most distinctive diaspora-facing ideas concern young people, culture and the relationship with the country of origin.

The programme proposes a “School of Belonging” built around exchanges, travel and civic participation. It also calls for stronger Arabic and Amazigh learning, support for Moroccan digital content, and a greater role for schools, public media, art and cinema in telling Morocco’s national story.

These are national policies, but they address a question that matters deeply to families abroad: how can a living connection with Morocco be passed on to second-, third- and fourth-generation children?

The process behind the proposals is also noteworthy. Istiqlal says it consulted more than 15,000 young people across over 600 municipalities in 2025. Its “11 January Youth Manifesto” was unveiled in January 2026 across Morocco’s 12 regions and at an event for Moroccans abroad in Toulouse, France, according to Nizar Baraka’s account of the initiative.

For the diaspora, that detail matters. Young Moroccans abroad were not simply mentioned after the policy process; some were included in the consultation itself.

The next step should be practical. If the School of Belonging is intended to operate abroad, the party should identify the countries covered, the role of associations and consulates, the number of beneficiaries, the funding model and the implementation calendar.

Skills and return: useful building blocks

Several measures could also make it easier for Moroccans abroad to return, work with Morocco or contribute without relocating permanently.

The detailed presentation of the 99 measures includes recognition of professional skills gained through experience and practice, a national labour-market and skills monitoring system, a digital and AI learning platform, and support for remote work. The programme also proposes territorial self-employment schemes, support for women entrepreneurs, and housing measures targeting young people and the middle class.

For a Moroccan professional abroad, these measures could have tangible value. Recognising experience acquired in Brussels, Montreal, Dubai or Dakar could reduce the mismatch between an international career and qualifications formally recognised in Morocco. Remote work could also allow a gradual return without forcing someone to immediately give up an overseas employer or client base.

Istiqlal has therefore identified several relevant tools. What remains unclear is how they would be connected specifically to the diaspora: a dedicated skills-recognition desk, an accelerated procedure, a talent-to-employer matching platform, support for spouses and children, or a coordinated resettlement pathway.

Investment and administration: favourable reforms, still broadly framed

Plans to digitise administrative procedures, reduce discretionary decision-making, create fair-access business platforms and apply the principle that administrative silence may constitute approval could all improve the experience of citizens managing affairs from abroad.

For Moroccans overseas, that could mean fewer journeys, shorter delays and greater certainty when handling a property or business project remotely.

The programme also promotes local production, Moroccan brands, industrial upgrading, intellectual property, technology and cybersecurity. These priorities could create opportunities for diaspora investors, entrepreneurs and specialists to work with Morocco.

MMNEWS nevertheless applies the same distinction to every party: a general reform that may benefit an MRE is not the same as a measure designed specifically for Moroccans abroad.

In the materials available at the time of review, MMNEWS did not identify a sufficiently detailed plan for a diaspora investment one-stop shop, a co-investment fund, consular support for project holders or a mechanism for turning diaspora savings into productive capital.

Voting and representation: the charter could open the door

Istiqlal has a history of supporting fuller citizenship for Moroccans abroad. In 2021, Nizar Baraka argued for stronger political participation, while the diaspora was described as Morocco’s “13th region”.

The proposed Charter for Moroccans of the World could give that ambition a renewed framework in 2026. However, the publicly accessible documents reviewed by MMNEWS as of 2 September do not set out a sufficiently detailed plan for direct voting at consulates, electronic voting, diaspora constituencies or specific parliamentary representation.

That distinction is important. MMNEWS is not concluding that Istiqlal rejects those options. It is saying that they are not yet documented in a verifiable, operational form in the material currently available.

This is particularly relevant because the programme itself stresses participation and democratic trust. A clear political mechanism in the charter would give substance to that goal at a time when Moroccans abroad can create a voting proxy online, but must still rely on another person to cast the ballot physically in Morocco.

Pensions and social protection: a national base that needs a cross-border layer

Istiqlal proposes gradual pension increases and faster reform of Morocco’s pension funds. These are significant national commitments and may benefit people resettling in Morocco after careers spanning more than one country.

They do not yet answer every cross-border issue: coordination between pension systems, social security agreements, recognition of contribution periods abroad, life certificates, healthcare after return and support for older returnees.

The proposed diaspora charter could again provide the framework. A country-by-country approach would be especially useful because the rights of a Moroccan pensioner in France may differ considerably from those of someone living in a country without a comprehensive social security agreement with Morocco.

MMNEWS MRE score: 53%

This score does not assess Istiqlal’s overall political programme. It measures only the space given to Moroccans abroad and the specificity of the commitments affecting them.

Why 53%?

The score recognises a vision of the diaspora that goes beyond remittances. Istiqlal addresses belonging, youth, language, professional skills, administrative modernisation and the possibility of return. The Toulouse consultation, the School of Belonging, support for Arabic and Amazigh, and recognition of experience-based professional skills are the strongest elements.

The proposed Charter for Moroccans of the World also introduces the beginnings of a coherent political framework. It signals that the diaspora is being treated as a constituency in its own right.

The score remains moderate because many dedicated mechanisms are still insufficiently documented. The charter’s substance, legal scope, timetable and accountability structure have not yet been made publicly clear. Voting, parliamentary representation, consular reform, diaspora savings, international pensions and social security agreements are addressed only partially or indirectly in the documents reviewed.

The 53% score is therefore a starting point rather than a ceiling. It could rise quickly if Istiqlal publishes the full charter and attaches measurable commitments to it.

MMNEWS’ question to Istiqlal

Istiqlal has identified a sound principle: Morocco’s relationship with its global community should be brought together within a coherent charter.

The question now is whether the Charter for Moroccans of the World will become a genuine contract for the 2026–2031 term — with defined rights, named authorities, deadlines and public performance indicators.

If it does, Istiqlal will have a framework capable of linking the best parts of its current programme — belonging, younger generations and professional skills — to the more institutional questions of citizenship, administration and social protection.

The party does not yet offer a fully developed MRE policy. It does, however, provide a recognisable foundation that is more cultural and intergenerational than narrowly financial. That is a promising direction. The next task is to turn the charter from a symbol into a working plan.