On Monday, the Federation of the Democratic Left (FDL) expressed deep concern over the crackdown on demonstrations across several cities, where citizens have rallied to demand improved social services, particularly in health and education. This reaction from the opposition party follows a series of sit-ins in locations such as Agadir, Essaouira, Meknès, Tiznit, Taounat, and Oulad Tayma. In a statement sent to Yabiladi, the FDL underscored that these social demands are «legitimate, given the scarcity and deterioration of numerous social services and public facilities». The party voiced its «solidarity with those detained and condemned any form of repression and restrictions against the demonstrators». The party further asserted that «the right to peaceful protest is enshrined in the Moroccan Constitution and international conventions ratified by Morocco, and thus, the streets should not become arenas of violence and intimidation». Moreover, the FDL called for dialogue with the demonstrators to find a lasting solution to the ongoing issues. It urged «all active forces, including human rights and civil society organizations, political parties, and trade unions, to join forces in defending citizens' right to peaceful expression and in working to uphold their dignity and fundamental freedoms». Recent demonstrations in certain cities have been marked by arrests, particularly in Essaouira. In other areas, such as Taounate, protesters decried that their provincial hospital has been reduced to merely a transfer point, forcing patients to travel to Fès for adequate care. Last week, a similar protest in Agadir resulted in the dismissal of officials from the Hassan II regional hospital.
