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| Mr. Abdelilah Benkirane, Head of Moroccan Government |
The Islamist-led government in Morocco boasts an unprecedented qualification. Most of the ministers of the ruling party have a high academic educational level and early all of them have shown their willingness to reform the ministry of which they are in charge.
All the ministers of
the new government have expressed more than once through different
public media outlets that they are ready to do all that it takes to put
the statements of the new constitution into practice and to abide by its
guidelines.
But unfortunately, press
releases and good intentions don’t make politics. In the absence of a
strategic program and a clear future vision, all that remains is just
talk. Politics is not manufactured by an aura of hopes as it is not
based on aspirations.
One swallow
doesn’t make spring. Mr Abdelilah Benkiran, head of government, is
preoccupied creating a harmonious coalition among the entire political
strips that seemed to march to the beat of a different drummer.
Observers of the political scene in Morocco would notice how the
statements of ministers within the government are in stark
inconsistency.
Mr Abdelilah Benkiran
has sought, since the early days of his government, to adopt a different
strategy in dealing with the social files relying on a religious
diction in his direct talks with protesters in Rabat to reassure them.
However, the continuation of protests today, both in the capital, Rabat,
and in other areas, quickly have proved the limitations of this new
approach.
Neither, the populism of Mr
Benkirane, the smiles of Mr. Othmani, nor the plainness of Mr Elkhalfi
will succeed to convince the angry, unemployed youth, the underpaid
public sector employees and the majority of people under agreed
standards of living at the absence of concrete projects aiming to create
new jobs and eradicate poverty.
The
novice government is still having more challenging issues hindering its
progress. Even the weather seemed to conspire against it. Agriculture,
which is considered a vital and important pillar marking the strength of
the Moroccan economy, was effected badly this year by the shortage of
rain. Consequently the prices of food get higher. This only is enough to
kindle the rough of people and may lead to more strikes and protests.
Another
unexpected source of concern to the Islamist-led government came but
from the movement of Unity and Reform, the advocacy arm of the ruling
party, the PJD. Mr. Ahmed Alhamdawi, head of the movement (MUR),
forwarded a strongly worded message to the Government of Mr. Benkirane,
calling him to carry on the reform away from excuses.
The
existence of corruption lobbyists in Morocco is crystal clear to
everyone and exists nearly in all countries. They stand in the way of
any attempts to reform once it contradicts their benefits or does not
favor their business. However, it is never an accepted excuse to free
the government from fulfilling its duties and responsibilities towards
people. Before being elected, any government should have a clear program
and tactful strategies to attain those goals underlined in their
program.
Unlike the previous Moroccan
governments, the Islamist-led government is somehow doing well. But to
bring significant improvements in living standards, reforming the
decaying educational system, creating the thousands of jobs and
affording housing to the homeless, it still has a long way in the
future.
By Larbi Arbaoui
Morocco World News
Taroudant, Morocco, May 4, 2012
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