![Spanish Representatives Oppose Morocco’s Joint Bid with Spain and Portugal Spain’ Prime Minister proposed a trio bid with Morocco and Portugal to host the 2030 World Cup; but the idea does not appear to be popular with Spanish politicians. The representatives of two Spanish political parties, the People’s Party and the Citizens-Party, have said they do not want Spain to submit a joint candidacy with Portugal and Morocco for the 2030 World Cup. In a meeting organized by the National Federation of Sports Facilities Entrepreneurs (FNEID) in Madrid, the People’s party representative, Vicente Azpitarte dismissively spoke about Spain joining a trio with Morocco and Portugal to organize the World Cup. Azpitarte specifically wondered whether Spain would get any advantages from teaming up with the two countries, t Spanish news outlet Iusport reported on Wednesday. The Citizens-Party representative, Roberto Nunez, agreed with Azpitarte. “We do not intend to organize a World Cup with other countries. Spain has more than enough capacity [to organize the World Cup], it is a country that has already organized a World Cup, and we do not understand that proposal,” Nunez said. The adviser of United Podemos, Oscar Penas, stated that he does not clearly see why “the priority is to organize a World Cup or an Olympiad at this time.” Morocco and Spain cooperate on a number of issues, ranging from security and migration to trade and education. On November 18, the Spanish Prime Minister, Pedro Sanchez, arrived in Morocco for a first visit since his election to premiership. During his visit, Sanchez proposed to both Head of Government Saad Eddine El Othmani and King Mohammed VI a joint bid for the 2030 World Cup. “We are launching a joint message, which is that this will be a bid between two continents. The King of Morocco is receptive and we’re going to work on it with Portugal. We are very excited about it,” Sanchez said.](https://www.moroccoworldnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/ABL-Launches-in-Casablanca-Becoming-Africa’s-First-Aircraft-Leaser-180x135.jpeg "ABL Launches in Casablanca, Becoming Africa’s First Aircraft Leaser")
Rabat - Complainants in the Taoufik Bouachrine case allegedly suffered “threats and pressure,” Public Prosecutor of Casablanca’s Court of Appeal Najim Bensami told Agence France Press (AFP) on Friday.
Rabat – Complainants in the Taoufik Bouachrine case allegedly suffered “threats and pressure,” Public Prosecutor of Casablanca’s Court of Appeal Najim Bensami told Agence France Press (AFP) on Friday.
Bouachrine, who was arrested on February 23, is facing charges of sexual harassment, gendered violence, and rape. Police said that they have 50 videos backing the charges facing the prominent journalist. The police have further hinted that the said videos were recorded by Bouachrine himself.
The public prosecutor said that the court has information that “confirms that the complainants are under pressure and threats from the ‘entourage’ of Bouachrine.”
Bensami further said that the alleged victims were offered a financial arrangement to withdraw their complaints.
“It is our duty to protect them from the moment they appeared in the seized videos,” said the public prosecutor, adding that the court considers the complainants victims of the crime, “even if they do not file complaints.”
During his trials, Bouachrine’s lawyers made the case for their client’s innocence, claiming the video evidence the police claims to possess has been “falsified.”
“If the defense considers that the procedures were not respected, it has only to request the cancellation of the recording minutes to the court,” said the public prosecutor.
He added that charges against Bouachrine are based on videos seized by police during his arrest.
On Thursday, Bouachrine’s fourth trial saw tensions escalate between his defense team and the court, with his lawyers emphasizing that documents and videos were “falsified.” The alleged suspect will appear before the court again on Wednesday, April 11.
