Rabat – A leaked audio recording attributed to Rachid Talbi Alami, president of Morocco’s House of Representatives and a senior figure in the National Rally of Independents (RNI), has brought growing tensions between the RNI and its coalition partner, the Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM), into the open.
The recording, which has circulated on social media and was published by several Moroccan media outlets, is said to contain remarks Talbi Alami made during a recent RNI political bureau meeting. Morocco World News (MWN) has not independently verified the recording, and it remains unclear whether the audio was leaked deliberately or without the speaker’s authorization.
In the recording, the voice attributed to Talbi Alami criticizes what appears to be a reference to Fouzi Lekjaa, without naming him directly. Talbi Alami uses football language to mock the idea of applying “FIFA rules” to politics and refers to bringing players such as Achraf Hakimi and Yassine Bounou from abroad.
He then appears to warn against allowing Lekjaa to obtain the Ministry of Economy and Finance in a future government.
“If the RNI forms an alliance, and if it has the presidency of the government, he will not see this ministry,” the speaker says, referring to the Finance Ministry. He adds that the ministry already has a “locataire,” apparently referring to current Finance Minister Nadia Fettah.
The remarks come as competition between the RNI and PAM intensifies ahead of Morocco’s September 23 legislative elections. The official electoral timetable places candidate submissions between August 31 and September 8, followed by the campaign from September 10 to 22.
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The rivalry has become particularly sensitive since Lekjaa joined the PAM and entered its political leadership. His move has fueled speculation that the football federation president and Budget Minister could seek a larger political role after the elections, including a possible bid for head of government.
Lekjaa’s arrival has also strengthened the PAM’s electoral ambitions. Recent local reporting has described the competition between the RNI, PAM, and Istiqlal as increasingly open, with the three governing parties competing for influential candidates and local political figures.
The dispute has already produced public criticism from RNI leaders. In July, Head of Government Aziz Akhannouch said, “We are not in an electoral transfer market,” while Talbi Alami warned that political action could not be conducted according to the “law of the jungle.”
The RNI has since accused the PAM of attempting to attract its elected officials and prospective candidates ahead of the vote. The PAM was reportedly preparing an extraordinary political bureau meeting on Wednesday to respond to Talbi Alami’s remarks.
The leaked recording therefore adds a new dimension to an already tense electoral battle. Beyond the question of who will win the September vote, it points to an early struggle over who could control key ministries and shape Morocco’s next government.
