{
  "id": 9197239,
  "title": "How Ceuta, football and Israel are shaping Morocco's election",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/22/how-ceuta-football-and-israel-are-shaping-moroccos-election",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-22T20:59:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "BBC World",
    "slug": "bbc-world",
    "url": "https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c8r4v7n6py97o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "As Morocco prepares for its parliamentary elections, young voters are being enticed with promises of football fervor, job creation, and anti-Israel rhetoric. However, many young Moroccans feel their concerns are largely ignored. Siham Azeroual, a 32-year-old environmental activist, expressed her disillusionment, stating, \"I have no hope for this election. I'm ashamed of our political scene. It's a complete circus.\"\n\nThe vote will determine the next government, occurring just weeks after 60,000 people risked their lives crossing from Morocco to Ceuta - a Spanish enclave, highlighting the perceived lack of opportunities at home. Morocco functions as a constitutional monarchy, with political parties vying for 395 seats in the House of Representatives. King Mohammed VI appoints the prime minister from the leading party, but also oversees the Council of Ministers.\n\nThe current election campaign coincides with a surge of Gen Z protests over unemployment, healthcare, and living costs. The unrest culminated in over 2,400 prosecutions. Despite the crackdown, young activists like Hamza El Kharroubi, who was briefly arrested during the protests, are still willing to enter politics. He joined the little-known Environment and Sustainable Development Party, advocating for a green agenda. El Kharroubi, from Tetouan near the migration route to Ceuta, emphasized the link between the migration wave and economic hardship.\n\nThe International Monetary Fund estimates overall unemployment at 13%, while youth unemployment reaches 37.3%. El Kharroubi aims not to compete with established parties but to secure a voice in parliament to build towards 2031. Fouzi Lekjaa, head of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation and a senior politician, has emerged as a political sensation. Known for his role in elevating the national men's football team, Lekjaa joined the centrist Party of Authenticity and Modernity (Pam) in July, promising to improve education and healthcare to match the football team's Fifa ranking.\n\nPam is competing against 26 other parties, including Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch's National Rally of Independents (RNI), which has pledged to create one million jobs by 2031. Political expert Rachid Aourraz remains skeptical, stating that the \"one million jobs\" pledge is an overused electoral slogan without a viable implementation plan. The Islamist Justice and Development Party (PJD) is also seeking a political comeback, using anti-Israel sentiment to win over voters, despite Morocco's normalized ties with Israel under the Abraham Accords.",
  "summary": "Young voters are being courted with football slogans, promises of jobs and anti-Israel rallying calls.",
  "key_points": [
    "Young Moroccans disillusioned, see election as a circus",
    "Ceuta migration crisis fuels youth protests over unemployment",
    "Football federation leader Fouzi Lekjaa gains political traction"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Haaretz",
        "title": "Four years of eroding women's rights in Israel. Can the election reverse the trend?",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/22/four-years-of-eroding-womens-rights-in-israel-can-the-election",
        "published": "2026-09-22T19:41:15.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "Spanish PM says Morocco’s border control ‘failed’ in Ceuta",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/22/spanish-pm-says-moroccos-border-control-failed-in-ceuta",
        "published": "2026-09-22T21:26:09.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}