Socialist Party Withdraws Support for Opposition's Censure Motion Against Morocco's Government

Rabat – The Socialist Union of Popular Forces (USFP) party decided to withdraw its support for a joint opposition motion of censure against Aziz Akhannouch's government.
Abderrahim Chahid, the president of the socialist parliament team, stated the party's decision on Friday, citing several issues.
The party said the motion process was 'profit-driven calculations lacking meaningful accumulation,' a situation that requires a political clarity that reflects 'responsible political and partisan commitment.'
'The Socialist team announces the suspension of any coordination regarding the motion for censure and affairs, as a vigilant, conscious, and responsible federal opposition, its continued oversight of the government's work and public policies in the service of citizens' interests and the higher interests of the nation,' the statement added.
The party acknowledged that it agrees that the current government witnessed numerous dysfunctions that affected its performance.
'These dysfunctions have significantly undermined the institutional balance stipulated by the Constitution, as the government's overreaching practices have restricted parliamentary opposition and allowed ministers to evade accountability,' the statement added.
Earlier this year, Morocco's opposition announced a decision to submit a motion of no confidence against the government.
The parties said they had already prepared a draft, and were getting ready to submit a motion for a vote in April.
The decision came in response to dysfunctions and what they perceived as inefficiency in the government's handling of internal affairs.
The decision to submit the postponed draft of the motion came after calls from the opposition, urging the government to allow the establishment of a parliamentary fact-finding commission amid growing concerns over the effectiveness of the cabinet subsidies for livestock imports.
The Progress and Socialism Party (PPS) Secretary General, Nabil Benabdallah, said in March that the tax exemption granted by the government to sheep and cattle importers amounted to $1.38 billion from 2022 to 2024. Around 277 importers benefited from these exceptions.
Benabdallah's numbers do not match with government estimates, which put the tax exemption at $31.5 million, as cited in an official announcement by House Speaker Rachid Talbi Alami.
In a new statement published on the party's website, Benabdallah sharply criticized the government, noting that the cabinet finds itself in a 'genuine political, ethical and legal deadlock in the face of national public opinion due to the scandal involving billions of dirhams it has squandered.'
'This has been done through direct subsidies and tax and customs exemptions that it has granted- and continues to grant to livestock importers on a silver platter,' Benabdallah added. Tags: akhannouchgovernmentMoroccoopposition

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