A proposed agreement governing paid parking services is on the agenda for the next session of Agadir’s municipal council. The prospect has already drawn criticism from some residents, particularly as several of the parking areas concerned have so far been available free of charge.
“Residents were surprised to discover this item on the agenda for the October 7 session, especially since free parking had been appreciated until now,” said Redouane Ouri, a community activist in Agadir. He said the return of paid parking could also revive tensions surrounding the management of parking facilities.
“This decision risks bringing residents and visitors back into conflicts with parking attendants and creating a new form of social tension,” he added, arguing that households are already facing a general rise in prices. In his view, the potential impact of the measure could be particularly significant in the current context.
Redouane Ouri called on Agadir Municipal Council President Aziz Akhannouch, along with the other council members, to reconsider their position. He also linked the decision to the local political context, referring to the results of the latest legislative elections in Agadir and Inezgane, where the PJD came first.
“The RNI suffered a significant setback in the latest legislative elections in Agadir and Inezgane,” he said, stressing that the situation could have consequences in the next municipal elections scheduled for 2027.
Residents have also raised questions about the project’s potential economic and tourism impact. “Residents in the region are completely opposed to this proposal, which could have economic and tourism repercussions for the city,” said Saad El Brouni, a resident of Agadir.
He said the debate also concerns the principle of charging for parking in spaces considered public. “The owner of a car, motorcycle or even a bicycle will now have to pay to park in public spaces, even though they already pay the various taxes imposed on them,” he added.
Saad El Brouni also questioned the context in which the decision is being considered. “What Aziz Akhannouch plans to do during the October session is a measure that we consider unacceptable,” he said, before questioning whether it could be linked to the results of the September 23, 2026 vote in Greater Agadir.
For him, however, the issue goes beyond parking alone. He called on the municipal council to take into account the changes the city has undergone in recent years and the efforts made to strengthen its attractiveness.
“The municipal council must assume its responsibility toward a city that has begun to emerge from its marginalization and regain its dynamism,” he concluded, referring to the royal visit of February 4, 2020, during which several agreements were signed to support Agadir’s development and upgrading projects.
The resident also stressed the importance of these investments in transforming the city and strengthening its tourism image, which has made Agadir one of the showcases of the Souss-Massa region in recent years.
