Review of Moroccan dailies issued on Monday February 27

AL Massae:

Abdelilah Benkirane says the Justice and Development party (PJD, ruling party) will not attack Fouad Ali El Himma, because respect for the King requires respect for his advisers. He says that things are going well and that the government is moving forward in exercising its powers under the provisions of the Constitution. In another subject, Benkirane pledges to enforce the law against unemployed graduates who occupy the public space.

The U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton welcomes the reform process initiated by HM King Mohammed VI, saying that Morocco stands as model in the region in terms of consolidating democracy.

Akhbar Al Yaoum Al Maghribia:

The U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton reiterates her position in support of the Moroccan autonomy plan and calls on Algeria to normalize relations with Morocco towards building the Arab Maghreb Union.

The National Council of PJD is functioning in smooth conditions and agrees to cooperate for the success of the current stage: Abdelilah Benkirane says there is no dispute between him and advisor to HM the King, Fouad Ali El Himma.

Assabah:

Abdelilah Benkirane says his party made no concession to the palace during the formation of the government. He also says that citizens are entitled to demonstrate but are not entitled to undermine others’ rights.

Moroccan Foreign Minister announces the setting up of a regular political consultation mechanism between the Kingdom and the United States aimed at further strengthening bilateral political and economic cooperation. His U.S. counterpart Hillary Clinton calls the Moroccan autonomy plan “serious, realistic and credible”.

First secretary of the Social Union for Popular Forces (USFP, in opposition), Abdelouahed Radi, is preparing to leave the party before the next congress due on June, because of implicit disagreements between the party’s leaders. According to some sources, Fathallah Oualalou, Driss Lachgar and Abdelhadi Khairat may be candidates to succeed him.

Al Khabar:

Head of separatist polisario Mohamed Abdelaziz barricades himself for fear of a reaction by the Sahrawis held in the Tindouf camps: he set up a new safety system around the building of the so-called general secretariat of the pseudo-SADR in the outskirts of Rabbouni.

Al Ahdath Al Maghribia:

The members of governments are required to declare their assets to avoid lawsuits in implementation of anti-corruption penal dispositions. Otherwise, those ministers risk losing their posts, along with fines and administrative sanctions.

Al Ittihad Al Ichtiraki:

Hundreds of thousands of Moroccans stage a march in Casablanca in support of the Syrian revolution and call for the Syrian ambassador in Rabat to be expelled. 

Bayane Al Yaoum:

Associations of Moroccans expelled arbitrarily from Algeria intend to set up an international coalition in order to defend the victims’ rights and exert further pressure towards bringing those behind the expulsion to justice.

Le Soir Echos:

U.S. Secretary of State hopes that Morocco and Algeria will expand their cooperation for the benefit of the Maghreb and for security in the region. 

L’Economiste:

Hillary Clinton highlights Morocco’s role model. She praised the Kingdom’s efforts especially with regard to Syria.