Idriss Lachgar, head of Morocco’s Socialist Union of Popular Forces (USFP), accused opposition parties of political “manipulation” and “deception” after his party withdrew from joint efforts to present a no-confidence motion against the government.
Speaking Saturday at the party’s national council in Rabat, Lachgar said the USFP’s decision was rooted in a desire to avoid misleading the Moroccan public. He specifically criticized the Justice and Development Party (PJD) for attempting to “hijack” the initiative, and dismissed a compromise proposed by the Party of Progress and Socialism (PPS) as “nonsensical.”
“We refuse to participate in deceiving the people,” said Lachgar. “Our goal is to present the truth clearly before public opinion, as real politics, as the late Mehdi Ben Barka said, is the politics of truth.”
According to Lachgar, the USFP launched consultations on the no-confidence motion as a means to compel Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch and his ministers to appear before parliament, amid what he described as an increasingly authoritarian government. However, he said opposition coordination quickly unraveled due to disagreements over who should present the motion in parliament.
The USFP argued it had the rightful precedence to introduce the motion, given its standing as the largest opposition party. “Even parliamentary procedures prioritize speaking order by seat count, especially on crucial issues such as a no-confidence motion,” Lachgar noted.
Tensions escalated when the PPS suggested a power-sharing arrangement: the USFP would submit the motion, the Popular Movement would read it aloud, and the PJD would handle the press conference. Lachgar derided the idea as “the height of absurdity.”
“We’ve reached a point where the members of a group don’t even know who’s doing what,” he said, adding that such proposals reflect a lack of seriousness and strategic coordination among opposition factions.
The socialist leader also accused the PJD of initially rejecting the no-confidence motion only to later reverse its stance and insist on reading it. “They backtracked and tried to steal the spotlight,” he said.
Addressing claims that a personal feud between him and former Prime Minister Abdelilah Benkirane (PJD) was to blame for the breakdown in talks, Lachgar denied the allegations. “If the PJD presents a proposal that benefits the country — like ensuring free and fair elections in 2026 — we will support it,” he said.
Despite his party’s withdrawal from the no-confidence motion effort, Lachgar emphasized the USFP’s commitment to responsible governance. He cited the party’s voluntary participation in an investigative committee on livestock subsidies, even though it was not consulted in its formation.
“We chose to step away from the chaos and clarify the situation to the public,” Lachgar concluded. “Continuing on this path would have been pointless. Politics is about clarity, not confusion.”
The opposition’s failed attempt to unite behind the no-confidence motion highlights growing fragmentation among Moroccan political parties, even as they attempt to challenge the dominant ruling coalition.
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