A group of Moroccan unionists has launched an initiative called the 'Corrective Movement for Unionists,' which aims to reform the Socialist Union of Popular Forces party. The initiative was announced through a statement titled 'Federal Anger Statement,' which was signed by several prominent unionists, including Hayat Barakat, Manal Thaqal, Leila Bouho, Atika Waziri, Khadija Nadif, and Maryam Jamal Al-Idrissi. The statement expressed concern over the party's poor performance in the recent legislative elections.
The 'Corrective Movement for Unionists' initiative comes in response to the Socialist Union of Popular Forces' disappointing results in the September 23, 2026, legislative elections. The party secured only 26 seats, which the signatories of the statement consider a significant decline in the party's influence. They argue that this decline is not just an electoral issue but also a crisis that affects the party's relationship with its historical role in producing political discourse and social representation.
The statement criticizes what it describes as the 'personalization of the party' and the concentration of decision-making around the leadership. It emphasizes that the crisis of the Socialist Union of Popular Forces is not the responsibility of one person but a collective responsibility, with varying degrees of accountability depending on the position and decision-making capacity. The initiative calls for a review of the methods for electing leaders, monitoring them, and holding them accountable.
The 'Corrective Movement for Unionists' initiative advocates for a comprehensive reform of the Socialist Union of Popular Forces. The signatories propose a new approach that involves liberating the party from its current constraints and rebuilding it. They suggest that the required reform should not be limited to organizational cosmetic changes but should also redefine the role of the party institution and renew the union idea.
The initiative also calls for the opening of the party to new competencies and generations, both within and outside the party's structures. It emphasizes the need to transcend the division between 'inside' and 'outside' the party and to engage with various actors in the fields of culture, writing, social practice, and political imagination. The signatories believe that leaving the party does not necessarily mean abandoning the union idea.
The 'Corrective Movement for Unionists' initiative aims to restore the union presence in various sectors, including universities, culture, press, civil society, and digital space. It also seeks to address new issues such as artificial intelligence, digital economy, digital platforms, climate change, and demographic changes. The signatories hope to produce a new union discourse that can keep pace with societal transformations.
The initiative has been welcomed by some as a positive step towards reforming the Socialist Union of Popular Forces. The signatories have emphasized that the statement is open to all unionists who identify with its content, whether within or outside the party's structures, and whether in Morocco or abroad. They aim to transform the current situation of 'anger' into a constructive process of reform and renewal.
Key points
- The 'Corrective Movement for Unionists' initiative aims to reform the Socialist Union of Popular Forces party.
- The initiative was launched in response to the party's poor performance in the recent legislative elections.
- The signatories propose a comprehensive reform of the party, including a review of leadership election methods and a new approach to party institution and union idea.
