By Rachid Khouya
Morocco World News
Smara, Morocco, May 14, 2013
Chabat’s withdrawal from the Benkirane government has disrupted the political scene in Morocco and opened the playing field. This demonstrates that components of the government coalition have not been in agreement since the very beginning and that the voices of opposition from these components have been heard but not taken seriously by the head of government.
Moroccans are asking now about alternative solutions and how the Islamists can deal with this complex situation. Morocco World News has asked different people for their reactions and opinions about the withdrawal of Istiqlal, the Independence Party, from the government.
Mr. Lhoucine Alhyan, a teacher of English from Bouzakan near Golmim in the south of Morocco, said, “Chabat's withdrawal from the government was anticipated months ago especially after winning the position of party leader. Most of the Istiqlal's national council voted for withdrawing from this coalition as a result of Benkirane's ruling style. They threatened to withdraw from the government coalition after the sluggishness and unwillingness to engage in social debate and also after Chabat’s harsh criticism of Benkirane and his representatives in the parliament."
Alhyan added, "I think the Justice and Development party will not be able to rule anymore if they could not manage to reform the government and give the Istiqlal party more positions. What we are seeing now is really a well-played movie whose actors are mere crocodiles and ghosts."
For Alhyan, true change will come from ordinary people when they learn that their role is not just remaining as observers. They should be engaged in every aspect of the political life and work together and impose a new constitution that frankly states and declares that the three authorities are separated and that all people are equal before the law."
Mr. Nourdine El Moussawi, a teacher trainee in Tata city said, "This is a plot from the part of Chabat who is used to leading such political coups to reach his hidden political agenda and interests." The timing of the withdrawal for El Moussawi, shows "Chabat is a great gambler as he chose the right time to knock Benkirane when the king was out of the country."
Jobless student graduates also share the same opinion and doubt the actual motivations behind this withdrawal. Mr. Elaadnani Zineelabidine, a jobless university graduate from Smara, said, "I doubt the seriousness of this political party as this might be a mere play whose scenarios were written behind the curtain to serve personal political agendas and to prepare for early elections."
"Chabat wants to force the government to give him more ministerial positions. But at the end of the day, the King intervened and asked him to keep his ministers in the government,” Mr.Elaadnani Zineelabidine told MWN.
Mr.Youssef Zaaouati, a local journalist and native of Smara, expressed "surprise and expectation of this decision at the same time". He said, "This could cause a political tsunami in the political life in Morocco which will lead to a royal intervention to find an agreeable solution and to bring the train back on track.”
The decision shows something is going wrong inside the government as there is a lack of agreement and integration between the components of the government coalition. It could affect the political balances in the kingdom in a moment when it is being watched by foreign countries and when the country is under attack from enemies of national unity. These risks necessitate wisdom and caution and the priority of national interest over personal and selfish interests.
The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect Morocco World News’ editorial policy
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