Moroccan Political Parties Warn of Deepening Crises Amid Concentration of Wealth in Hands of Makhzen’s Mafia
BY: Hana Saada
Casablanca, January 26, 2024 – Today, Moroccan political parties issued a warning to the government of Aziz Akhannouch about the escalating social, political, and economic crises in the country. They expressed concern over the prevalent crony capitalism, monopolies, bribery, and the concentration of wealth in the hands of the Makhzen’s mafia, which leverages political power to favor both local and foreign capitalists, including Zionist interests, in seizing control of key production and service sectors.
The Democratic Way party, in its political report submitted to the party’s central committee, focused on the dilemma of “economic recession and inflation in Morocco.” The party argued that these economic challenges would exacerbate social and economic crises, especially with the increasing dominance of crony capitalism, bribery, and the concentration of wealth in the hands of the Makhzen’s mafia, which exploits political power to sideline competitors.
While the government persists in its restrictive policies towards certain segments of Moroccans, it simultaneously extends a helping hand to local and foreign capitalists, including Zionists, facilitating their takeover of various sectors such as education, healthcare, and other essential services, as well as communal and agricultural lands seized from Moroccan farmers.
The party cautioned the Akhannouch government about the dangers of its weak response to the ongoing rise in the cost of living and the deterioration of purchasing power for citizens, particularly the vulnerable groups. It called on the government to take “strong and impactful” measures to intervene using all available mechanisms to alleviate the burden of high prices for most consumer goods and services, with a particular emphasis on fuel prices, which continue to directly or indirectly impact citizens’ pockets severely.
The Democratic Way party also criticized what it referred to as the “insistence of Moroccan authorities on the normalization policy with the Zionist entity,” stating that it contradicts the positions and will of the Moroccan people.
In a similar vein, the Justice and Development Party highlighted that considering certain facts “will lead us to a disappointing conclusion that confirms the image formed regarding the government as one of corruption, inflation, unemployment, developmental failure, excessive borrowing, total managerial failure, and the horrifying political retreat and complete absence throughout 2022 and 2023, leading inevitably to a shakeup of confidence and its eventual loss.”
Abdelaaziz Aftati, a prominent figure in the Justice and Development Party, asserted that the government is fundamentally lacking in political trust due to its manipulation of the popular will in the previous elections through financial means. He accused the government of having a singular agenda, which is to embrace large, exploitative, corrupt capitalists, protecting and mobilizing them to erode popular sovereignty and sustain predation in the fields of money and business, terming it an “executive disaster.”
The Political Bureau of the Socialist Union of Popular Forces, in a recent statement following its latest political bureau meeting, stressed the “urgent need for political scene reform in Morocco and the cleansing of the electoral space from corruption.” This includes the status and functions of political parties, the regulatory law governing their operations, legislative and regulatory systems for elections, as well as monitoring the use of money in elections.
As the political landscape in Morocco faces mounting challenges, the collective call from various political parties underscores the urgency for comprehensive reforms to address the economic downturn, social inequalities, and the erosion of political trust, ultimately aiming for a more transparent and inclusive political process.
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