King Mohammed VI placed national belonging at the center of his address to Parliament on Friday, recalling his words from 2014: “As a Moroccan, nothing else is more valuable to me than the sense of belonging to this nation”.
“That sentiment remains with me today. It is becoming stronger and more deeply rooted with the passing years”, the King said.
He described Morocco as “one of the world’s oldest nations”, united under “a venerable monarchy—one of the most ancient in history”. He also highlighted the country’s religious identity under the Commandership of the Faithful and its distinctive cultural identity.
The King said national pride should translate into a sense of responsibility, stating: “Pride in one’s homeland, in this case, is not about boasting or self-satisfaction; rather, it is the driving force that turns the sense of belonging into responsibility, and confidence into a national duty”.
Turning to the country’s development priorities, he called for new strategies covering water, energy, food security, industrial development, the digital economy and artificial intelligence. He also urged the private sector to play a stronger role in investment, job creation and exports.
Youth, he said, must remain at the forefront of public policy, with equal opportunities in education, skills development and economic integration. The goal is to strengthen young people’s confidence in their prospects and enable them to build a future based on freedom, dignity and stability.
The King also emphasized local action and regional development, warning that “any further delay or procrastination in the full implementation of the de-concentration charter is unacceptable”. He called for the transfer of responsibilities and the necessary human and financial resources from central government to provinces and regions.
On migration, he said the current cooperation model had become outdated and pointed to recurring crises. Addressing cooperation with Spain, he cited legal provisions and judicial rulings that he said were impeding the repatriation of minors and “fake asylum seekers”, while fueling criminal networks.
The King stressed that Morocco’s partnership with its neighbors remained a sovereign choice, declaring: “It will never be subject to any pressure, threat, or blackmail”. He said Morocco would present its partners with a strategic vision aimed at shared development, economic competitiveness and regional stability.
Concluding his address, Mohammed VI reminded lawmakers that “the parliamentary mandate is a political commitment and a moral contract binding you to the citizens”, urging them to fulfill their national responsibility before God, the citizens and history.
- Source: MAP