Marrakech – Dominique Strauss-Kahn, the former president of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), who now resides in Marrakech, expressed his profound connection to Morocco and its people in the wake of the recent earthquake in Al Haouz.
In an interview with French news channel BFMTV, Strauss-Kahn (also known as DSK), began by stating, “I feel as Moroccan as I do French. I spent my childhood in this country, and I have been here for fifteen years now.”
“My wife is Moroccan, and many of my friends are Moroccans, but my children are in France, so my heart is divided,” he continued. “But yes, I feel very Moroccan.”
He went on to highlight the spirit of solidarity he has witnessed in Morocco following the disaster, emphasizing the willingness to help neighbors, support those in need, and provide refuge to the vulnerable.
He contrasted this with what he perceives as a lack of such solidarity in French society, even after his involvement in various social causes.
DSK asserted, “When I witness Morocco in the aftermath of the earthquake, I see the embodiment of the solidarity that I’ve always believed is essential within a society, a quality I sometimes find lacking in our own French society.”
“This tangible solidarity, the act of helping one’s neighbor, refusing to leave the elderly homeless, and readily sharing their tables with those in need – I rediscover this profound solidarity in Morocco that I’ve always cherished,” he added.
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He stressed the importance of the historical relationship between France and Morocco, noting that it has been mutually enriching for both nations.
While acknowledging existing tensions between France and Morocco, DSK attributed them primarily to French difficulties and expressed optimism that these issues would resolve over time.
“The problem between Morocco and France is not recent; the relations are in a dreadful state. The absence of a genuine Morocco specialist at the Élysée is evident and has consequences,” he detailed.Dominique Strauss-Kahn also stressed that despite his personal connections and deep feelings of attachment to both France and Morocco, his primary focus at present is on providing assistance to those affected by the earthquake. He expressed hope that reconciliation between the two nations would occur in due course.
