As the working class and unions gathered on Monday to celebrate Labour Day, Abdelilah Benkirane, secretary general of the Justice and Development Party (PJD), took the opportunity to criticize the head of government and condemn efforts of the Minister of Justice to legalize sexual relations outside marriage.
Speaking at the May 1 demonstration organized by the Moroccan Labor Union (UMT) in front of its headquarters in Casablanca, Abdelilah Benkirane recalled that “the Moroccan people voted, on October 7, 2016, for the PJD as the first party in Morocco, which had been able to increase from 107 to 125 seats, and I was appointed head of government.”
However, “conspiracies and maneuvers have aimed to deprive the Party of this deserved, great and honorable victory, eliminating Benkirane at first, and then the PJD, in order to reach the situation in which the party finds itself today,” he said.
He added that he “does not regret what happened”, but as a party, as a union and as a movement, “are we Moroccans and do we have rights like everyone else, or are we outcasts? Despite the upward trajectory in the legislative institution, lobbies tend to eliminate us from the race,” he wondered.
“It is a shame that the country that went through the crisis of February 20, during which the party helped save the country from the fate that others have witnessed, is grouping four political parties aiming to lower the PJD,” referring to the “blockage” that hindered the formation of the government by Benkirane after the victory of his party in the 2016 legislative elections.
The party’s SG continued, “Benkirane does not lower his head, we are present at all costs, because it is a responsibility before God above all.” On the other hand, he strongly criticized the current government, saying that he has nothing to complain about, because “it is up to him to solve the problems of Moroccans,” while calling on him to “at least be honest if not possible.
For Benkirane, “Morocco is a country based on two fundamental things, which are Islam and the monarchy, and Islam requires honesty. When you want to govern, you have to be honest with the people. Before taking office, the head of government made endless promises that were not kept. Unfortunately, a number of Moroccans believed him, they voted for a few dirhams in exchange and they have no right to protest because they took money and sold their dignity, their homeland and their future.”
In addition, the SG devoted a significant part of his speech to attacking the Minister of Justice, Abdellatif Ouahbi, for his efforts to introduce substantial changes to the Moudawana and the Penal Code to legalize sexual relations outside marriage and equality in inheritance between women and men.
And addressing Ouahbi: “Is it time to legalize consensual relationships? Citizens are concerned about the high price of onions and potatoes and you talk about consensual relationships, that is, fornication,” noting that Moroccan criminal law in its current form does not prohibit consensual relationships, but when there is a dispute about it, the authority intervenes, that is, the state thus prevents the crime.
According to a source close to the PAM leadership, Ouahbi has chosen to ignore Benkirane’s statements.
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