Akhannouch’s GMT+1 U-turn: A Long Overdue Change or an Electoral Stunt?

Rabat – Few government decisions have generated as much public frustration in Morocco as the permanent adoption of GMT+1. Since its introduction, the measure has sparked recurring debates, online campaigns, petitions, and criticism from parents, students, workers, and civil society groups who argued that it disrupted daily life, especially during the winter months.

Now, after years of dismissing public demands, Head of Government Aziz Akhannouch has announced that Morocco will officially abandon GMT+1 and return to GMT at the end of the summer. Many Moroccans have welcomed the decision, considering it a long-overdue correction. Yet while the announcement has been met with relief, it has also raised an unavoidable political question: why now?

The timing is difficult to ignore.

For nearly a decade, successive governments maintained that GMT+1 served economic interests by aligning Morocco more closely with European trading partners. Officials repeatedly defended the measure despite widespread criticism and despite the fact that opposition to the time change never truly disappeared.

Many Moroccans therefore find it hard to believe that the sudden reversal is simply the result of policymakers changing their minds. Instead, a growing number see the move through a political lens, particularly as the country approaches parliamentary elections scheduled for September.

‘We’re still not voting for you’

Reactions on social media have reflected both satisfaction and skepticism. While many users celebrated what they described as a victory for common sense, others questioned why authorities waited so long to respond to a demand that citizens repeatedly voiced for years.

“As the elections approach, even the clock hands are changing direction!” wrote one user.

Another commented: “We’re not voting for your party, just chill.”

Other users said that the decision would have been more convincing had it come years earlier, rather than just two months before voters head to the polls.

Only recently, Abdelilah Benkirane, secretary-general of the Justice and Development Party (PJD), promised that one of the first measures his party would take if returned to power would be the abolition of GMT+1. The pledge formed part of a broader attempt by the former ruling party to reconnect with voters by focusing on issues that directly affect everyday life.

Whether Benkirane’s promise influenced the current government’s decision is impossible to prove. However, the coincidence is striking.

Announcing the decision to the media today, Akhannouch said that it comes after “listening to citizens’ demands” and meetings as part of the government majority about how the additional hour negatively affects citizens’ lives.

The decision offers clear political advantages for Akhannouch’s government, as it allows the ruling majority to remove a source of public dissatisfaction before opposition parties can capitalize on it during the campaign. It also enables the government to present itself as responsive to citizens’ concerns.

This does not necessarily mean the decision lacks merit. In fact, many Moroccans who welcome the return to GMT may care little about the political calculations behind it. Their primary concern is that a measure they disliked is finally being abandoned.

“Yes, I’d vote for 1000 Akhennouch rather than one Benkirane,” an Instagram user said in response to the decision.

Yet politics is often as much about timing as it is about substance.

Electoral calculations

Had the government announced the change two or three years ago, many observers might have viewed it primarily as a policy adjustment. Announcing it less than two months before elections inevitably invites speculation about electoral motives. Such suspicions are natural in democratic elections, particularly when a decision aligns closely with a popular public demand.

Beyond the debate over working hours, Akhannouch’s tenure as head of government has been marked by broader public dissatisfaction linked to the cost of living. Morocco has experienced over the past years rising inflation, increasing fuel prices, and growing pressure on household purchasing power. These developments have fueled a wave of online criticism and public anger directed at the government.

Social media platforms saw the emergence of viral campaigns and hashtags calling for change, including campaigns such as “Akhannouch Get Out” and “Akhannouch Leave,” which reflected frustration over economic conditions, particularly the price of fuel and basic goods.

Critics have often pointed to Akhannouch’s dual identity as both a political leader and a prominent businessman. As the head of Akwa Group and a major player in Morocco’s fuel distribution sector through Afriquia and Afriquia Gaz, his wealth and business interests have repeatedly been discussed in public debate. Some opponents argue that this overlap has contributed to persistent questions about conflict of interest, especially in a sector as sensitive as fuel pricing.

These criticisms have followed the head of government throughout his mandate, particularly during periods when fuel prices rose sharply and inflation affected daily life.

Akhannouch announced early this year he would not be running for another term as party leader.