Morocco coalition tensions flare as parties trade blame over “speculators”

Political tensions inside Morocco’s ruling coalition resurfaced this week after Nizar Baraka, secretary general of the Istiqlal Party, attacked what he called “speculators” profiteering from rising prices, prompting a public rebuttal from senior figures in the government alliance ahead of the 2026 elections.

Speaking at a party event marking the anniversary of nationalist leader Abbas El Fassi’s death, Baraka said his party wanted to “protect Moroccans from speculators,” reviving a politically sensitive debate over inflation, market controls and purchasing power after months of public frustration over food and fuel costs.

The remarks triggered an unusually direct response from Rachid Talbi Alami, speaker of parliament and a senior member of the ruling National Rally of Independents, who questioned which ministry was responsible for regulating domestic trade.

“Maybe he is speaking about himself,” Talbi Alami said during an appearance on Morocco’s Al Aoula television channel, noting that the trade and industry portfolio is held by Istiqlal ministers.

The exchange exposed increasingly visible positioning inside the governing coalition, which also includes the Authenticity and Modernity Party, as parties begin distancing themselves from unpopular economic files before legislative elections scheduled for September 2026.

Political analyst Hafid Zohri said the dispute reflected a broader attempt by coalition parties to avoid collectively absorbing the political cost of inflation and weakening purchasing power.

“Each party is trying to shift responsibility for sensitive economic files onto another actor inside the government,” he told Hespress, adding that the escalation also reflected declining coordination between coalition leaders.

Rachid Lazrak, head of the North Africa Center for Studies, described the clash as “controlled electoral messaging” rather than an immediate threat to the coalition itself.

Baraka’s comments, he said, were designed to position Istiqlal as a defender of households facing higher living costs, while Talbi Alami’s response sought to remind voters that Istiqlal itself manages key economic portfolios inside the government.