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Rabat – Head of Government Saad Eddine El Othmani has commented again on the ongoing boycott against “unjustified” price increases for food products. After apologizing to consumers, El Othmani said that the boycott mirrors a “cry of suffering” experienced by some middle-class citizens.
El Othmani made his remarks during a national committee meeting of the Justice and Development Party (PJD), held at the headquarters of the party in Rabat on Saturday.
El Othmani, who is also the Secretary-General of the PJD, said that the boycott campaign launched on April 20, is a “cry of suffering,” adding that it is the duty of the government to “understand this and undertake practical steps” to stop the suffering of citizens, in a statement published at the PJD’s official website.
El Othmani confirmed that his cabinet has been following with a “great interest” the recent changes at the national level, reaffirming that the government must listen to the demands of citizens.
“We will not ignore such a phenomenon or act as if it did not exist. This is our role, otherwise, we will not be up to the responsibilities,” El Othmani said.
The head of government further explained that all steps undertaken by his cabinet in the first year of his mandate were aimed at “supporting the middle class and strengthening the purchasing power of citizens.”
“When we increase the number of scholarship for students and develop employment in the public sector, both in education and in health, this undoubtedly supports purchasing power and the middle class,” he said.
Read Also: Boycott in Morocco: Is This the End of the PJD?
Several officials condemned the boycott, including Government Spokesperson Mustapha El Khalfi.
El Khalfi denounced the boycott earlier this month, asserting that online activists’ claims of price increases are “fake news.” Moroccan Minister of Economy and Finance Mohamed Boussaid also condemned the boycott and described boycott supporters as “madawikh” (fools).
In response to the increasing tension between people supporting the boycott and government, El Othmani apologized to consumers for the harsh comment made by the officials.
