Conservative MPs strongly question Bensaid on morality, despite ongoing PJD scandal

Moroccan politicians’ morality was the subject of Monday’s fiery oral questions session in Parliament, where MPs and Minister of Culture Mehdi Bensaid debated drugs, alcohol and the youths morality, or lack thereof.

Conservative Justice and Development Party (PJD) MPs initiated the debate by questioning the Ministry’s recent festivals and cultural events, accusing it of “tolerating speech that encourages the consumption of alcohol and drugs, and permitting sexual innuendos in public.”

“Festival gatherings have become a place for shameful behavior,” said one MP, calling recent artistic shows a monstrosity, refusing to call the controversial performances art.

MPs from the National Rally of Independents (RNI), accused the opposition of obstructing the trial of an artist, relating to the ongoing judicial process rapper ElGrande Toto is undergoing.

Head of the Progress and Modernity (PAM) team in Parliament, MP Ahmed Touizi, argued that “ethics are a behavior, not a slogan,” in response to PJD’s accusations.

The majority member MP accused the PJD members of double standards, in light of the recent scandals that plagued the conservative party, pertaining to the secretary general, and the myriad of festival ethics conundrums the PJD itself has been involved in when it was in power only a few years back.

“Morocco will remain a country of freedom and creativity, and this is Morocco,” said the PAM MP.

Parliamentarian Abdellah Bouanou did not miss the opportunity to intervene and add to the moral accusations against the majority teams, specifically the Ministry of Culture, accusing the government of “supporting a film that promotes homosexuality.”

Bensaid replied that the funding for this film dates back to 2017, and therefore the current government is not concerned with it.

The Minister of Culture considered that the government’s role is not to arrest and censor artists, as it is not compatible with Moroccan culture and religion.

Bensaid wondered about the reasons behind the many facets of dillinquence among youths, saying it is most related to the absence of any policy geared towards youth over the past ten years.

The government official stressed that young people can make mistakes, and the government’s role is to correct; But people should also be left to experiment and express themselves.