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National Rally of Independents

Political party in Morocco From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

National Rally of Independents
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The National Rally of Independents (Arabic: التجمع الوطني للأحرار, romanized: al-tajammuʿ al-waṭani lil aḥrār; Standard Moroccan Tamazight: ⴰⴳⵔⴰⵡ ⴰⵏⴰⵎⵓⵔ ⵢ ⵉⵏⵙⵉⵎⴰⵏⵏ, romanized: agraw anamur y insimann; French: Rassemblement National des Indépendants, RNI), is a political party in Morocco. Despite self-identifying as social-democratic, the party has been described as pro-business and liberal, and the party has a history of cooperating with two other parties with a liberal orientation, the Popular Movement and the Constitutional Union, since 1993. Since September 2021, it has been the country's ruling party.

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History and profile

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The party was founded in 1978[8] by Prime Minister Ahmed Osman, brother-in-law of King Hassan II.

The establishment united independent politicians favoured by the palace and used by the administration to counter the parties that were critical of the king and his government. Later, it became an ordinary party without a special role in Morocco's multi-party system. It was succeeded by the Constitutional Union as the palace's favourite party.[9]

In the parliamentary election held on 27 September 2002, the party won 41 out of 325 seats. In the next parliamentary election, held on 7 September 2007, the RNI won 39 out of 325 seats.[10] The RNI was included in the government of Prime Minister Abbas El Fassi, formed on 15 October 2007.[11]

After the 2016 parliamentary election, billionaire businessman Aziz Akhannouch was elected party president.[12] He undertook a major image revamp for the party, establishing party youth, women's, and student wings, and created a large social media presence for the RNI, spending US$211,000 on Facebook and Instagram ads.[13] Akhannouch also launched the "100 Villes, 100 Jours" (100 Cities, 100 Days) party initiative in which RNI officials and supporters travelled to 100 cities in Morocco, particularly medium and small-sized cities, in 100 days to have their citizens insert proposals for their cities.[14]

In the 2021 general election, the RNI placed first, winning 102 seats amid a crushing defeat for the ruling Justice and Development Party.[15][16] Akhannouch was then designated Prime Minister by Mohammed VI.

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Political positions

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The RNI espouses a centrist, pro-business ideology grounded in economic liberalism, social pragmatism, and institutional modernization. Under the leadership of Aziz Akhannouch, the party has positioned itself as a technocratic alternative to traditional parties, focusing on practical solutions over ideological rhetoric. [17][18][19]

Economic policy

The RNI advocates for market-oriented reforms aimed at stimulating private investment and entrepreneurship. It supports tax incentives for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), simplification of bureaucratic procedures, and public-private partnerships (PPPs) in infrastructure development. The party has endorsed the “Intelaka” program, a state-backed initiative promoting youth entrepreneurship and access to microcredit, and has supported regulatory reforms to formalize parts of the informal economy. During its tenure in government, the RNI prioritized the implementation of the “New Development Model” proposed by King Mohammed VI, aligning economic strategy with long-term growth and social cohesion.[20][21][22]

Social welfare and healthcare

In line with national directives, the RNI has championed the rollout of universal health coverage, particularly through the expansion of the RAMED system and the integration of independent workers into national health insurance schemes. The party has supported increasing the minimum wage and extending family allowances to informal workers. In its 2021 electoral platform, RNI pledged to create a monthly allowance of 1,000 MAD for every family without stable income, part of a broader push to institutionalize direct social aid.[23][24][25]

Education and youth

RNI policy emphasizes vocational training and curriculum reform to address skills mismatches in the labor market. The party advocates for expanding technical education, supporting dual training models in partnership with the private sector, and enhancing STEM education. It has proposed subsidizing access to preschool education and incentivizing school attendance in rural areas through conditional cash transfer programs. The party has also supported increased digitalization of education as part of post-pandemic recovery efforts.[26]

Governance and public administration

The party supports administrative decentralization and has endorsed the consolidation of regional councils with greater financial and decision-making autonomy. It has backed civil service reform aimed at improving merit-based recruitment and digitalizing government services. The RNI has proposed performance-based evaluations for public officials and a stronger role for the Court of Auditors in monitoring public expenditure. In its governance discourse, the party frequently emphasizes “efficiency” and “results-oriented management.”[27][28]

Women’s rights and social inclusion

The RNI supports maintaining and building upon the reforms introduced by the 2004 Mudawana (Family Code), including expanded legal protections for women and access to family courts. It has called for the enforcement of existing gender quotas in electoral lists and has endorsed additional financial and legal support for women-led businesses. In its electoral manifesto, the party proposed the creation of community centers offering support services for women in vulnerable situations, including victims of domestic violence.[29][30]

Environmental policy

The RNI aligns with Morocco’s broader national strategy on sustainable development and climate resilience. It has promoted investment in solar and wind energy projects, supported sustainable agriculture through the “Green Morocco Plan” and its successor “Generation Green 2020–2030,” and backed legislative reforms related to water resource management. The party has advocated for incentives for farmers to adopt climate-resilient practices, particularly in drought-prone regions.[31][32]

Foreign policy

The RNI supports Morocco’s traditional foreign policy pillars: territorial integrity, economic diplomacy, and South-South cooperation. The party is a staunch backer of the Moroccan autonomy initiative for the Western Sahara and supports diplomatic efforts to consolidate international recognition of the plan. It has also highlighted the importance of deepening economic and security ties with sub-Saharan Africa, the European Union, and the Gulf Cooperation Council. In the wake of the 2020 Abraham Accords, the RNI welcomed the resumption of diplomatic relations with Israel, emphasizing opportunities for bilateral trade and innovation.[33][34]

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Electoral results

Moroccan Parliament

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Prominent members

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References

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