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King Mohammed VI made it clear at the opening of the fall session of Morocco’s Parliament that there should be no inconsistency between the country’s large-scale development projects and its social protection programs.
“The goal is to achieve the country’s development and improve the living conditions of citizens, wherever they may be,” the King said in a nationally televised address.
The monarch used the occasion to call for a more integrated and inclusive approach to governance, one that aligns infrastructure investment with the urgent need for social equity.
He stressed that development efforts must be coherent and coordinated, with all actors working toward a shared national vision.
“Special attention should be given to accompanying citizens, and shedding light on initiatives taken by public authorities,” he said, adding that this responsibility extends beyond the government to include Parliament, political parties, elected officials, civil society, and the media.
King Mohammed VI reiterated his call to accelerate the “march of emerging Morocco,” a phrase he introduced in his Throne Day Address last July, and urged the launch of next-generation local development programs.
These initiatives, he said, must transcend political cycles and be guided by long-term strategic thinking.
The King emphasized that achieving social justice and reducing inter-regional disparities are not temporary priorities, but strategic objectives that must shape all development policies.
He called for a shift in governance culture, one that embraces field data, digital tools, and a results-oriented mindset. “The major shift I seek to achieve concerning local development necessitates a tangible change in mentalities and work methods,” he said.
Among the specific directives, the King urged a renewed focus on fragile regions, particularly mountainous areas and oases, which account for nearly a third of Morocco’s territory.
He called for an integrated public policy that reflects the unique needs and resources of these regions. He also stressed the importance of sustainable coastal development, advocating for better use of the Coastal Law and the National Coastal Plan to balance growth with environmental protection and economic opportunity.
The King further called for the expansion of the emerging rural centers program, describing it as a key mechanism to manage urban expansion and bring administrative, social, and economic services closer to citizens in remote areas. He warned against inefficiencies and waste in public investment, urging all stakeholders to combat practices that squander time, effort, and resources.
As Morocco enters a new legislative year, King Mohammed VI called on both the government and Parliament to rise to the challenges ahead. “The coming year will be replete with projects as well as challenges,” he said. “I expect you all to muster all energies and capabilities, and to make the best interests of the nation and the citizens prevail over any other consideration.”
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