The Council of the Moroccan Community Abroad (CCME) hosted on April 26, 2025,a conference on “Political Action, Diversity, and Social Issues” at the International Book and Publishing Fair (SIEL). The panel, moderated by Mohamed Tozy, featured Ahmed Aboutaleb (former mayor of Rotterdam, Netherlands), Karim Bouamrane (mayor of Saint-Ouen, France), and Ahmed Laaouej (President of the Koekelberg Municipal Council, regional deputy, and group leader in the Brussels Parliament. The discussion explored managing identity in political careers, the relationship between political trajectories and the host country’s narrative, and the unique political paths of these leaders.
Ahmed Laaouej outlined Belgium’s complex political landscape, shaped by linguistic divides between Dutch-speaking Flemings and French-speaking Walloons, with Brussels as a cosmopolitan hub hosting 186 nationalities. He noted that Moroccan immigration, driven by Belgium’s industrialization needs, arrived amid existing tensions. Unlike France’s strong republican model or the Anglo-Saxon inter-community model, Belgium’s system recognizes and subsidizes religious practices, creating a unique framework for social inclusion. Laaouej highlighted the rise of populist and far-right movements as a contemporary challenge, fueling social tensions.
Ahmed Aboutaleb shared his journey as a migrant and political ascent, emphasizing the importance of political engagement as a form of citizenship. He joined the Dutch Labour Party to “exercise his citizenship” and rose to leadership when needed. Aboutaleb described Dutch racism as often subtle, noting that his Moroccan origins were questioned during his Amsterdam mayoral candidacy. He views racism as a matter of societal acceptance rather than immigrant integration. Despite challenges, he achieved significant success, being named the “best mayor in the world” by the City Mayors Foundation and the best Dutch mayor three times. He likened his political journey to driving cautiously, prioritizing citizens” needs.
For his part, Karim Bouamrane emphasized the value of dual Moroccan and French identity, crediting his Moroccan roots for shaping his intellectual, political, and philosophical outlook. He critiqued France’s assimilationist model, which often treats minorities as perpetual foreigners, contrasting it with the republican integrationist ideal that recognizes equal citizenship.
Mr. Bouamrane noted that many Moroccans, expecting to return home, faced barriers like educational inequities and glass ceilings. He defended France’s 1905 secularism law but criticized its misuse to suppress non-Christian religious expression. He highlighted the economic, cultural, and political contributions of French-Moroccans, rejecting the term “diversity” as it implies assimilationist differences. Inspired by Aboutaleb, Bouamrane urged French-Moroccan youth to embrace their dual heritage and recognize Morocco’s global influence.
The meeting underscored the challenges and successes of Moroccan diaspora leaders in navigating identity, racism, and political inclusion in diverse European contexts.
