Report: Moroccans Trust Security Agencies More Than Government

Rabat – Unlike the government, Morocco’s security efforts have earned both the respect and trust of Moroccan citizens, according to a new report from the Arab Barometer.

Moroccans exhibit “broad trust in security agencies,” the report said, suggesting that this might be due, among other things, to the  “higher visibility of security agencies in the past decade in the media.”

According to the report‘s data, 77% of surveyed Moroccans have a “great deal or quite a lot of trust in the armed forces.”

The statistics also show that the level of trust is “slightly” up among wealthier citizens, educated Moroccans, and “non Amazigh speakers.”

Around 72% of Moroccans also trust police, the report found, adding this percentage is even much higher among people with a university education.

Meanwhile, the report found that fewer than “four-in-ten” Moroccans trust the government, parliament, and the prime minister.

The report linked this declining trust in government to the lack of trust in the “electoral process in general.”

For 39% of Moroccans surveyed by the report, the county’s latest parliamentary elections “were not free and fair.” By comparison, only 20% said they trusted the election results.

“Moroccans who cannot cover expenses are roughly twice as likely to say that elections were not free and fair as wealthier citizens,” the report noted.

The data further shows that only 33% of Moroccan citizens trust the parliament. Although low, the number represents a “significant improvement” compared to 2018 — with +12 points.

Morocco’s latest general elections took place in September 2021. 

The elections saw the National Rally of Independents (RNI) top the charts by securing the highest number of parliament seats. 

The Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM) came second, while the Istiqlal Party (PI) came third. The three parties then formed a   government coalition that has since been ruling the country.

Surveyed citizens also recommended changes to improve levels of trust in government institutions.

According to the report, many Moroccans have “suggested programs of political reform” to tackle the growing mistrust in political authorities.

The report concludes that almost half of Moroccans — 46% in total — want to see political reforms in a wide range of areas.