BY: Hana Saada
ALGIERS- In a stunning revelation, international media reports have shed light on the determined efforts of Princess Lalla Meryem, sister of King Mohammed VI of Morocco, to rally support for her brother, Prince Rashid, as the rightful successor to the throne. The princess has reportedly invested a staggering $40 million in a media campaign aimed at preventing Crown Prince Hassan bin Mohammed from assuming power, arguing that his ascension would be illegitimate due to traditional royal customs.
American journalist Mike Evans, in an exposé on the New York Times blog, detailed Princess Meryem’s unyielding opposition to Crown Prince Hassan bin Mohammed’s path to the throne. The princess has cited longstanding royal customs and biographical norms, which, she contends, disqualify the crown prince from inheriting the throne in the event of his mother’s divorce.
These developments come in the wake of the scandalous divorce of King Mohammed VI of Morocco and his wife, Princess Lalla Salma, amid allegations of her betrayal with the French consul in Tangiers, who tragically lost his life in mysterious circumstances the previous year.
Journalist Evans further revealed that Princess Lalla Salma’s relationship with the French consul took place before her marriage to King Mohammed VI. It is alleged that she had played a pivotal role in bringing him to Morocco as the consul after they met in Paris while he was serving as an officer in the French foreign intelligence.
While these personal issues may not directly impact the interests of the Moroccan people, they have set off a chain reaction that has affected both the nation and the royal family.
Princess Meryem’s unwavering campaign to promote Prince Rashid as the rightful heir to the Moroccan throne has added fuel to the fire, igniting a crisis that has implications not only for the monarchy but also for the nation as a whole. The intense media battle between Princess Meryem and Crown Prince Hassan bin Mohammed has captured the attention of the global community and raised questions about the future of Morocco’s leadership.
