Hirak tops agenda of coalition government parties’ meeting

CASABLANCA - The political parties of Morocco’s coalition government held a meeting Friday in Rabat to discuss several issues on the agenda including the sentences given to the activists of the popular movement known as Hirak Al-Shaabi  in the Rif region.

In a statement issued after the meeting, which was chaired by Moroccan Prime Minister Saad Eddine El Othmani in the presence of the secretaries general of the political parties, the majority emphasized "the particularity of the current situation in the country and the changes that challenge everyone in a bid to learn lessons and conduct the evaluation, revision and reconciliation, in order to preserve the distinguished Moroccan model."

Political parties said they were concerned by this situation, given their political and institutional role as "the main tool of institutional mediation between the state and society," the statement said.

As for the verdicts pronounced against the activists arrested in connection with the unrest in the northern city of Al Hoceima, the majority insisted on "respect for the independence of the Justice and the guarantee of the conditions of a fair trial in conformity with the Constitution".

The statement recalled that the trial lasted nine months, during which the defence was able to express itself in accordance with the law and that "Moroccans are equal before the law and the rule of law and institutions concerns everyone, with the rights and obligations of everyone."

In the same vein, the political parties stressed that "these are judgments at first instance and that the defendants remain at the stage of the appeal and the other ways guaranteed by the law, which offers the accused and their families the hope of a revision of these sentences, as the parties of the majority aspire to do."

The majority reiterated the government's position regarding the "legitimate demands” expressed by the Rif inhabitants and its determination to execute the Royal Instructions aimed at completing the projects of the "Al Hoceima Manarat Al Motawassit" development programme in the best conditions and timeframes.

The statement also noted that the relevant departments and institutions have taken the necessary steps, which has allowed the completion of many worksites and achieve a significant progress for the rest.

The majority welcomed the launch of a new round of social dialogue and expressed the "wish to see these negotiations reach agreement as soon as possible" in order to better meet the expectations of employees of both public and private sectors, to support the purchasing power of poor and vulnerable groups and to accelerate the implementation of programmes to combat territorial and social disparities.

The majority parties agreed to hold another meeting to present their proposals for the 2019 Finance Bill in order to develop a project that promotes social justice, economic development and meets the citizens’ aspirations.