Rabat – A recent report by the Arab Barometer on public opinion revealed that two-thirds of Moroccans resort to personal connections (65%) and bribery (66%) to access job opportunities and fulfill bureaucratic requirements.
Released on Friday, the report gathered insights from over 2,400 Moroccan individuals in face-to-face interviews conducted between December 2023 and January 2024.
The report provided comprehensive data on how Moroccans perceive corruption within state institutions and at various societal levels.
The report highlighted an enduring prevalence of corruption perceptions among Moroccans, with a staggering three-quarters (74%) of respondents indicating its existence to a significant degree within state agencies.
Moroccans grappling with financial hardship are disproportionately more likely to perceive corruption within state institutions, with 86% of those facing economic challenges expressing such beliefs. In contrast, only 59% of the more affluent segments share this view.
Educational attainment further widens this gap, with lower-educated individuals being more likely (77%) to perceive corruption within state agencies compared to their college-educated counterparts (66%), added the report.
The Arab Barometer report also revealed a lack of faith in the government’s efforts to combat corruption, as less than half of Moroccans were convinced of its efficacy in cracking down on corrupt practices.
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Although this sentiment has seen a marginal increase since 2018, it remains indicative of widespread skepticism towards governmental anti-corruption initiatives.
Notably, socioeconomic disparities manifest once again in Moroccans’ trust in the government. According to the report, well-off Moroccans exhibit greater confidence in the government’s anti-corruption efforts compared to their less fortunate counterparts.
In the face of pervasive corruption, many Moroccans resort to informal channels such as “wasta” (connections) or “rashwa” (bribery) to navigate bureaucratic hurdles and secure employment or legal documentation.
A significant proportion of respondents admitted to using these informal networks. This indicates the prevalence of such practices as coping mechanisms in a system plagued by corruption.
In addition to corruption, the report covered various topics, including support for democracy, economic challenges, views on migration, civil liberties, women’s rights, environmental concerns, and government response to crises like the 2023 earthquake.
Notable findings include increased support for democracy, low trust in the government and its head Aziz Akhannouch, concerns about economic issues and climate change, calls for gender equality, and declined support for normalization with Israel.
