Morocco World New/ Maghreb Intelligence
Morocco World New/ Maghreb Intelligence
Rabat, November 1, 2011
Within a week, Morocco has witnessed the passage of several prominent personalities from the Spanish left, whether those who belong to the government or those coming from civil society. The Spanish Minister of Education and Culture was the first to set foot in the Sherefian kingdom last Monday before giving way to the high-profile foreign minister, Trinidad Jiminez. For two days, the latter has increased its contacts in Rabat at all levels.
The Spanish foreign minister who was accompanied by a delegation of businessmen, met many Moroccan decision-makers, but also the Spanish press accredited in Rabat. At ease, the Minister was not stingy with statements sympathetic to the Moroccan government.
Wednesday was the turn of the Executive Director of the most prestigious think tank of Spain, namely Nicolas Satrorius from Alternativas, who was there to lead a panel discussion on the Arab Spring in the headquarters of the Moroccan Organization of Human Rights (OMDH in French).
At the same time, the very marocophile Angel Moratinos, the former foreign minister, was also expected in Rabat to give a lecture along with Omar Azzimane. Observers wonder about the sudden increased interest in Morocco by Spanish politicians of the left while Spain is at the height of its electoral campaign.
According to a Spanish businessman installed for years in Morocco, the answer is to be found in the upcoming parliamentary elections in Spain, where the victory of the Partido Popular, known for it hostility towards Morocco, is taken for granted. Through the many visits of its principal leaders, they want to pressure the next government by conveying the message that it has left relations with Morocco in good shape and that a possible crisis between the two countries would be the sole responsibility of the PP.
