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Rabat – King Mohammed VI’s unprecedented decision to remove a number of high officials from their positions has opened the door to a round of speculations that there will be more dismissals of responsible bodies, including those of Morocco’s regional investment centers.
On October 24, the monarch received a report on the conclusions of the Court of Auditors regarding the Al Hoceima projects dubbed “Manarat Al Moutawassit.”
The report, which was presented by first president of the court of Auditors Driss Jettou, revealed imbalances and “serious dysfunctions” that led to several dismissals in the government of Saad Eddine El Othmani, though the dysfunctions began during the tenure of the previous government led by former head of government Abdeilah Benkirane.
According to a close source to the report’s authors, there might be another round of dismissals. This phase might concern responsible bodies of the country’s regional investment centers, reported Moroccan media outlet Telquel.
The magazine added that several officials of these institutions could be sacked following the report conducted by the Court of Auditors.
Officials of territorial administrations may not excluded from the next dismissal phase, as these officials were strongly criticized by the King. In his speech on July 23 for Throne Day, King Mohammed VI urged “governors, caids, directors, staff members, local officials, etc to work hard, just like in the private sector – or even harder.”
He added that “they should show a sense of responsibility that does credit to the civil service and yields concrete results since these officials are entrusted with serving citizen’s interests.”
With comments that appear to bolster today’s speculations, the King said that “regional investment centers – with the exception of one or two –are a problem.”
“They impede the act of investing instead of serving as a mechanism that provides incentives and resolves the problems of investors at the regional level, without their having to go to central government departments.”
Earlier this month, the King delivered a speech during the opening session of the new legislative year, in which he said that Morocco’s development model “no longer responds” to citizen’s growing demands and pressing needs despite the country’s tangible progress.
In the speech, the sovereign called for the government to come up with “innovative solutions, even if that means going into uncharted territory or causing an earthquake.” The King’s speech, which was delivered on October 13, sparked media speculations that there would be reforms or a reshuffle in the government. The King’s decision to sack officials came 12 days after the speech.
Among the officials who were dismissed: Mohammed Hassad, Minister of National Education and former Minister of the Interior, El Houssaine El Ouardi, Minister of Health, and Mohamed Nabil Benabdellah, Minister of Housing.
