Rabat – The leader of the Justice and Development Party (PJD), Abdelilah Benkirane, has renewed his accusations toward Aziz Akhannouch and his government, stating the cabinet “committed many disasters” that required their departure years ago.
Benkirane made his remark during a PJD campaign rally in Agadir on Saturday, conveying his party’s ambition to come “first in the upcoming elections, on September 23, 2026, to contribute to saving the country alongside and together with His Majesty the King.”
For Benkirane, the current government “had not done” what serves the state and society, accusing the Akhannouch-led government of “theft of the clock.”
The accusation references the Akhannouch government’s decision to abolish GMT+1, a promise which the PJD made to remove if elected.
In June, however, Akhannouch announced Morocco’s decision to end daylight saving time and adopt the GMT system. Rabat returned to the GMT system today.
Benkirane cited several challenges shaping Morocco’s society, including the government’s decision to prevent people over the age of 30 from taking part in teaching recruitment exams. For Benkirane, the decision is neither legal nor constitutional, with the PJD leader pledging his party would abolish this condition.
“These people are afraid of strikes, protests, and people taking to the streets,” Benkirane said, adding that “this is not how things are done. You must legislate for the people in a way that guarantees what is their right and serves their interests.”
Benkirane also accused Akhannouch of failing to fulfill his promises, including his pledge to give MAD 1,000 ($105.78) to the elderly and create one million jobs.
Benkirane argued that Akhannouch “has been putting his hand in public funds.”
For Benkirane, when fuel prices were liberalized, Akhannouch raised prices to make “illicit and unethical profits.”
Benkirane also cited other accusations, including Akhannouch’s alleged involvement in seeking MAD 26 billion ($2.75 billion) in public support for the Casablanca seawater desalination project.
He also accused Akhannouch of giving “billions of dirhams to ‘ferrakchia,’” or livestock traders, without any return for citizens, which caused a short supply during Eid al-Adha.
Benkirane said this caused people to not find sacrificial animals, in addition to the high prices of the livestock available for the feast.
