- Morocco allocates $15 billion for health and education in the upcoming budget, a 16% increase from last year, representing about 10% of GDP
- Budget aims to reduce regional disparities and support youth and women’s participation in elections, alongside anti-corruption measures
- Youth protests highlight demand for social priorities, criticizing government spending on stadiums and global events over healthcare and education
The Moroccan royal palace disclosed on Sunday that the country will spend 140 billion dirhams ($15 billion) on health and education in the upcoming year's budget, 16 per cent higher than that of the previous year.
The two sectors' proposed expenditure is about 10 per cent of Morocco's gross domestic product (GDP).
According to a statement by the royal palace, the Moroccan economy is likely to expand 4.8 percent this year, up from 3.8 percent last year, due to robust domestic demand and the performance of the non-agricultural sectors. The announcement came after the cabinet held a meeting presided over by King Mohammed VI.
The preliminary budget also provides for additional funds aimed at easing regional disparities. It will be debated in depth once Finance Minister Nadia Fettah submits it to parliament within the next few days.
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In a separate move, the cabinet endorsed two draft bills before the upcoming general elections. These entail proposals to make women and youths more represented in elections and to combat corruption, including disqualifying convicted criminals from running for public office. The proposals also make it easier for candidates under 35, with allowances worth 75 percent of their campaigning costs.
Moroccan cities have been rocked by youth-led protests since late September led by the so-called Generation Z 212 movement. The protesters protested what they termed 'wrong government priorities', criticizing government expenditures on global sporting events and stadium building at the expense of areas such as health and education.
Demonstrators openly associated the nation's failing healthcare sector with investment in preparation for the 2030 FIFA World Cup, shouting slogans like: 'Stadiums are there, but where is the hospital'?They demanded social justice and the protection of the right to health and education.
