![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 - Morocco’s Ministry of Health has given its version of the story after a pediatric surgeon accused a hospital of corruption and made a public and controversial resignation on Monday, July 23.
Rabat – Morocco’s Ministry of Health has given its version of the story after a pediatric surgeon accused a hospital of corruption and made a public and controversial resignation on Monday, July 23.
The surgeon, Dr. Mehdi Echafai, is better known as the “poor people’s doctor” for helping hundreds of families treat their children. Before resigning, he worked in the Tiznit Provincial Hospital, in an area 97 kilometers south of Agadir.
Echafai accused the hospital of “abuses” and “corruption,” denouncing “administrative problems” that negatively impacted his family and his own health.
Following Echafai’s accusations Monday, the ministry issued a statement on Thursday, July 26. The department explained that the 34-year-old surgeon “made administrative errors” that led to him being sent to a disciplinary council. The ministry noted the doctor’s right to defense by lawyers had been respected.
Back in February, the hospital’s chief medical officer accused the surgeon, Mehdi Echafai, of insulting him and sued the surgeon for libel and defamation. Echafai had posted a video online in February in which he denounced his superiors’ moral harassment, the failing health system, and corruption within the hospital.
The ministry assured that the conflict between the surgeon and the chief medical officer was a personal matter that had nothing to do with the doctor’s professional activity.
Furthermore, the statement claimed that Dr. Echafai “has been the subject of a complaint filed by the father of a patient who accuses him of refusing to take charge of his child without valid reason and to have published his medical file on his Facebook page.”
The Ministry of Health explained that the doctor was under a disciplinary measure depriving him of his salary for 4 months.
The regional health department assured that it does not wish to “interfere in a case in progress,” but that it is determined “to take the necessary measures in light of what will decide the justice.”
