Franco-Moroccan Teen Elected to Moroccan Youth Parliament, Balances Studies and Advocacy

The eldest of three children, Taha Riadi was born in 2004 in Azrou, Morocco. He joined France five years ago, for his last year of middle school, and lives with his aunts in Passage d’Agen. "I’ve traveled the whole world, but what touched me in France is the secularism and the history of the country," the Franco-Moroccan tells La Dépêche.

Interested in a career in cycling, he had to give up this dream two years ago, after learning that he suffers from severe osteoarthritis. "It was a very difficult time to live through, because cycling was my passion. So I got into politics and philosophy, as an alternative to sport."

Very involved in associations, Taha quickly takes a liking to politics. With the announcement last year by the Moroccan government that it was offering young people the opportunity to become deputies in the Youth Parliament, he applies without hesitation as a "Moroccan residing abroad, who wishes to join the foreign affairs committee." He succeeds in this competition, after an oral and written interview. "It was wonderful," recalls the young man who, through his "commitment", wants to "strengthen the relationship between France and Morocco." With about a hundred other young deputies, he works tirelessly to achieve this goal.

Taha dreams big. He hopes to one day meet King Mohammed VI. Last July, he sat in the Moroccan parliament to present a bill on the right to immigration and asylum. Next June, he will be at the European Parliament in Strasbourg. In collaboration with the Moroccan consulate, the town hall of Agen, the department and the Hassan II Foundation, the young man is currently preparing an international France-Morocco forum scheduled for June 24 in Agen. "The goal is to highlight the cultural exchanges between the two countries, because we must not forget that they have a common history," says the Franco-Moroccan.

Despite his political commitment, Taha finds time to spend good times with his friends on weekends. In his final year of science and technology laboratory, the high school student does not currently plan to make politics his career. "It remains a passion. I try to balance my political commitment and school." He sees himself more as a biology researcher, "because everything comes from science and it needs to be energized!" he assures. But his ambition in politics remains great. He dreams of becoming a governor in Morocco and would not refuse a position as mayor.