Rather than treating elections as a routine institutional deadline, Abdelrahim Rmah places them at the heart of a deeper question: the credibility of the state, citizens’ trust, and the very meaning of political action. In his analysis on strengthening elected institutions, he does not simply describe dysfunctions; he exposes a structural crisis that questions how political elites are produced and how the system continuously reproduces the same shortcomings.
As Morocco approaches the 2026 legislative elections, his argument reads like a warning: the issue is not only about organizing a vote, but about testing the resilience of the relationship between institutions and society in a context marked by significant social, economic, and cultural transformations.
Rmah begins with what appears to be a technical point: party nominations (investitures). Yet behind this procedural detail, he reveals a major shift in how political parties operate.
Where nominations once involved internal consultation and some degree of grassroots influence, they are increasingly driven by electoral viability—sometimes at the expense of principles and political values.
This shift is not neutral. It produces elected officials whose political and moral legitimacy is weakened, which in turn directly affects institutional performance.
The underlying question becomes unavoidable: how can strong institutions emerge when their entry point is itself compromised?
On a more sensitive level, Rmah addresses the issue of illicit money in elections. In his analysis, this is no longer an occasional deviation but an increasingly structured phenomenon.
Money has become a central tool in electoral competition, reshaping representation dynamics.
What stands out in his reasoning is the historical contrast he evokes: a period when voters could accept money without necessarily voting for those who gave it. That moral buffer appears to be eroding.
This raises an implicit question: are we witnessing a transformation of collective values under economic pressure, or the gradual normalization of unethical practices?
In both cases, the outcome is the same: weakened institutions and declining public trust.
Rmah then turns to electoral programs, which he describes as increasingly similar to the point where ideological distinctions fade.
When political differences become indistinguishable, politics loses its core function: offering meaningful choice.
This blurring is compounded by a visible gap between discourse and practice—between electoral promises, government action, and adopted legislation.
The result is a damaged perception of Parliament, not because of the number of laws passed, but because of their limited impact on freedoms, social justice, and citizens’ daily realities.
Thus, the crisis is not only institutional; it is also symbolic and political in nature.
Within this context, electoral abstention is no longer a mystery but a logical consequence.
For Rmah, it reflects a growing disconnect between citizens and institutions, driven by lack of clarity, corruption concerns, and the absence of tangible results.
The key question therefore emerges: do awareness campaigns to increase voter turnout address the real issue, or do they merely treat the symptoms while ignoring the causes?
Looking toward the 2026 and 2027 electoral cycles, Rmah stresses the need to think beyond the election moment itself.
The problem, in his view, is not only legal but also related to enforcement—especially at the level of local authorities, where the presence of officials suspected of corruption undermines governance and public trust.
The challenge is therefore twofold: ensuring transparency and rebuilding credibility.
Finally, Rmah highlights what he considers essential: the ethicalization of political life.
Without effective internal accountability mechanisms within parties and institutions, any reform remains incomplete.
He is critical of the tendency of political parties to overlook misconduct by their elected representatives, except when public pressure becomes unavoidable.
Hence his call for ethics committees at all levels and the enforcement of codes of conduct within both political parties and parliamentary institutions.
Ultimately, Abdelrahim Rmah’s analysis goes beyond electoral mechanics. It reveals a deeper tension between the official discourse of institutional strengthening and the practices that undermine it.
Between parties focused on winning, citizens increasingly disengaged, and institutions struggling to maintain legitimacy, one central question remains:
Can political outcomes be reformed without first redefining the rules of the political game itself?
