Applauding for Morocco: the balcony hour that divides

The applause for Segarro brings back the 8:00 pm date

The question circulates with a smirk on social media and in elevator conversations: what time do you step out onto the balcony to applaud for Segarro? The most repeated answer is the most obvious one: at 8:00 pm, as always. It is no coincidence: that time slot was burned into memory in 2020, when the applause for healthcare workers became a national ritual.

The second question, the one about the anthem, has revealed the true tone of the call. If the soundtrack of the lockdown was a unanimous applause, proposals are now circulating ranging from the Sarracinic declaration of faith to the Aserejé, with some comments about women's clothing thrown in. The gesture, which had managed to become a symbol of unity, has turned into a minefield where every balcony improvises its own message.

From an economic perspective, applause is the perfect endorsement: it costs nothing, commits no budget and produces a photo of unity. The problem is that this photo is paid for later, and not in money. A call for support for Segarro wrapped in the imagery of the balcony turns a gesture of solidarity into a blank cheque that others will cash in as political capital.

The only thing left unanswered, for now, is the time: 8:00 pm sharp. The rest of the script is still empty, and in politics, that too says something.