2026 Elections: Women’s political participation grapples with party politics – Yabiladi.com

Women’s political participation is once again at the center of debate as the September 23 legislative elections approach. Recent public statements by women activists from the USFP about the criteria used to select female candidates have shed light on practices that call into question the effectiveness of positive discrimination, exposing the extent of systemic violence.
As tensions mount within the Socialist Union of Popular Forces (USFP) over allegations that women’s nominations are being monetized, the selection process for regional candidates in the upcoming September 2026 elections reveals a broader issue of systemic political violence, transcending any single party.
Following their initial public comments, Meriem Jamal Idrissi, a lawyer and member of the USFP national council and the national secretariat of socialist women, along with Manal Tekal from the party’s political bureau, have intensified their critique of the mechanisms meant to bolster women’s participation.
Practices Undermining Affirmative Action
Having called for an investigation into suspicions of «payments for nominations», Jamal Idrissi told Yabiladi that this issue isn’t confined to one party. She emphasized, «Although political violence isn’t clearly defined by law, it parallels the economic, social, and psychological violence recognized legally. Women in public affairs face exclusion and constrained decision-making power.»
She continued, highlighting how these societal scars infiltrate political parties where some lack genuine conviction, reducing parties to «tools for accessing decision-making bodies without ideological foundations or regard for women.»
On Sunday, Jamal Idrissi also spotlighted «two key issues» arising from prioritizing candidates’ financial capabilities over competence. She pointed out that «regional quotas, as affirmative action, aren’t privileges but temporary measures to address structural imbalances and achieve true equality.»
The second concern is the lack of transparent and objective oversight of these quotas by political parties, which she warns could turn them into tools for exploitation or bargaining. Jamal Idrissi argues that «the trading of regional quotas isn’t limited to allocating electoral seats.»
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The USFP political bureau responded to Jamal Idrissi’s statements by reserving the right to legal action over what it terms false allegations. The lawyer, however, insisted to Yabiladi that «it is essential to recognize and legislate against political violence targeting women.»
The Monetization of Participation Intensifies Violence
The activist’s concerns align with warnings from the Democratic Association of Moroccan Women (ADFM) regarding political violence. The NGO cited a «threat to women’s right to free, independent, and equal political participation,» endangering the «achievements of feminist and democratic movements» and compromising «the constitutional role of affirmative action mechanisms.»
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The ADFM reiterated its call for «criminalizing political violence, establishing effective prevention mechanisms, and introducing safeguards to protect women from being excluded or pressured due to monetized nominations.» The NGO emphasizes that «these emerging statements highlight the need for vigilance, transparency, and accountability.»
«These practices pose significant dangers to women entering a political landscape already skewed by historical resource, power, and influence imbalances.»
The association stressed that requiring women to prove financial prowess over political competency, or demanding loyalty rather than independence, amounts to political violence rather than mere procedural flaws.
The ADFM urged all parties to «uphold their democratic responsibilities by implementing transparent and accountable selection processes» and called for an investigation into the extent of monetization practices.

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