By Fadhel Ben Maarouf
The attempt is risky for several reasons, which cannot be spread out in this period of crisis between Morocco and its neighbors. A concern to preserve the image of Morocco and its politicians… abroad.
The international stake is important for the stability of the kingdom and the success of its commitments and strategic partnerships, mainly of which the tripartite declaration, signed Tuesday, December 22, 2020 between Morocco, the United States and Israel, in Rabat, after the restoration of relations diplomatic relations between Rabat and Tel Aviv.
The stake is also important at the domestic level to participate in the establishment of the orientations of the new model of development requested by the King, after a finding of failure of the current one, after ten years of management of a government. led by the Islamist party PJD.
Reading the Benmoussa commission report leaves a taste of unfinished business
On May 25, after several months of waiting, the commission chaired by the former Minister of the Interior and current Ambassador of Morocco to France, Chakib Benmoussa, finally returned to King Mohammed VI a report of its reflection on the new development model in Morocco. A document that aims to be a vision and a kind of guide. But by no means a political program. Reading the report, a sort of collective declaration of good intentions, leaves a taste of unfinished business at first glance. We will come back to this in due course.
Akhannouch and the golden killing of Benkirane?
Called on to save the Rassemblement National des Indépendants (RNI) party from the debacle, the businessman, who has become the Palace’s favorite and close to his men, has established himself as a key player on the Moroccan political scene.
His first trophy was the failure of negotiations with Abdelilah Benkirane for the formation of a new government and its ouster, after a long programmed blockage, followed by a political killing of the charismatic ex-leader of the PJD, in in return for a golden retirement, religiously not legitimate, according to some extremist Islamist leaders.
Akhannouch is already the first in the electoral campaign
Legislative, municipal and regional… in Morocco, 2021 is the year of all elections. All the political parties are preparing for it, and that of billionaire Tafraout is no exception.
The president of the RNI, Aziz Akhannouch is already the first in the electoral campaign, just after the presentation of the new development model to King Mohammed Vi.
Challenger No. 1 of the Islamist party that heads the Moroccan government, Aziz Akhannouch’s RNI clearly displays its ambitions: to win first place in the legislative elections to lead the future government and end 10 years of PJD governance. But also, a difficult mission, to dislodge the Islamists from the big cities they have ruled since 2016.
A difficult mission but not impossible
In Morocco, the observation of low voter turnout benefits the PJD, which has a solid base of voters / party supporters. This is not the case for the other organizations, with the exception of the Istiqlal party known for the efficiency of its electoral machine and also its followers.
The party can mobilize its star ministers
The party can mobilize its startegic department who, for the moment, have never played the ballot game: Moulay Hafid Elalamy, Minister of Industry and Trade, Nadia Fettah Alaoui, a woman head of a department strategic: Tourism, Handicrafts, Air Transport and Social Economy or Mohamed Benchaâboun, the treasurer of the kingdom. Without forgetting that Aziz Akhannouch, steadfast Minister of Agriculture and Maritime Fisheries, could also introduce himself and play the role of locomotive of the RNI team.
At the end, Akhannouch and his Royal acquaintances!
Aziz Akhannouch’s relations have long been well established with the strong men of the new era of Mohammed VI, in particular the royal advisor Fouad Ali El Himma, and Mounir El Majidi, private secretary of the king, other acquaintances, more sensitive, than we don’t want to reveal, is an open secret.
Even and above all, with King Mohammed VI, Akhannouch seems to occupy a special position since he received him in his Casablanca villa, for a ftour in Ramadan 2013, a Royal privilege / baraka ..
Finally, and this is not insignificant, Aziz Akhannouch has been a keen connoisseur of the Makhzen system in Morocco since the days of the powerful late Driss Basri, and aware that political influence can cover the backs of a businessman.