![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")
An allegedly official document reveals that Abdelilah Benkirane receives an “additional pension” above his regular pension.
By Amal El Attaq
Rabat – Yesterday, based on an ‘official’ document, many news outlets reported that former Moroccan Head of Government Abdelilah Benkirane monthly receives an “additional pension.”
The document indicated that Benkirane receives an exceptional pension of 7 million centimes (MAD 70,000) at the end of each month as a supplementary pension on top of the regular civilian pension he receives.
The document, called a dahir, includes three items: The first mentions the pension amount. The second says that “the exceptional pension is given at the end of each month as a supplementary pension for the civil pension he receives.” The item added that the pension comes out of the government budget.
Abdelilah Benkirane denied receiving the additional pension. He said he only received a pension as a parliamentarian which he began collecting after King Mohammed VI appointed him as head of government.
On a Facebook Live video, he said, “This is fake news, the only pension I receive now is the exceptional one under instructions from King Mohammed VI, as I explained before,” said Abdelilah Benkirane. He commented the exceptional pension pleased him.
“I challenge them to bring evidences for this, but I am sure they will not find, and this requires an apology,” added Benkirane.
Speaking in a video last night, Benkirane promised to leave the country if there was evidence proving he gets an additional pension. “These are just lies, and I am challenging them to bring any evidences. If they do so, I promise to leave the country definitely,” said Benkirane.
Benkirane threatened that he would resort to the judicial system and ended his video asking the head of the Court of Auditors, Driss Jettou, to investigate his assets and “if anything is found, then I will ask him to expose me in front of public.” he said.
After receiving criticism on social media last month, Benkirane admitted getting a pension estimated at MAD 70,000 monthly under instructions from King Mohammed VI. The King granted the pension when he heard Benkirane had financial problems.
