Rabat – As tension continues between coalition parties, RNI has responded to a censuring statement from PJD Deputy Secretary-General Slimane El Omrani.
Morocco World News received the response of the deputy of the Rally for National Independence (RNI), Mustapha Baytas, today.
The RNI member addressed his response to El Omrani, who had condemned critical remarks about the Justice and Development Party (PJD) from RNI Minister of Youth and Sports Rachid Talbi Alami.
On Friday, September 21, Alami said that PJD members are “imitators” of Turkish President Erdogan. He also accused PJD of wishing to “destroy the country.”
El Omrani described the statements as dangerous and irresponsible.
In response and on the behalf of the political group, Baytas accused the PJD of attacking RNI members.
Baytas recalled that PJD members Abdelali Hamiddine and Abdelaziz Aftati had attacked RNI members.
The statement added that Aftati had “described” RNI members as “the cartels of dirty money.”
He said, “People know and understand the meaning of cartels.” Baytas accused the PJD of using language with “religious symbolism to exercise a kind of domination on people’s minds, which raises the question again about your inability to practice politics without getting back to religion and emotions.”
Baytas went on to add that RNI members “do not need to remind [PJD] that they are in the government by a sovereign decision. … and we do not wait for you or some of your brothers to decide for us when we continue or withdraw from the government.”
RNI, which is run by Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries Aziz Akhannouch, is part of the government coalition.
Following Alami’s comments about Erdogan on Friday, PJD member Abdelaziz Aftati had called on Alami to submit his resignation.
Alami “must submit his resignation from the government, and also his party needs to withdraw.”
Baytas also complained that PJD accused RNI of “blocking” former head of government Benkirane from forming a government.
King Mohammed VI dismissed Benkirane in 2017 in the midst of a five-month political deadlock to form a government.
PJD’s El Omrani said Alami’s remarks went “beyond” criticism “without the need for any interpretation, or else who do you refer to with your words?”
Head of Government El Othmani, who is also secretary general of the PJD, issued a statement on Tuesday after his deputy’s response calling PJD members to ignore Alami’s statements.
He said, “A party meeting will consider the matter.”
