In a recent speech delivered in Marrakech, Idriss Lachgar, the Secretary-General of the Socialist Union of Popular Forces (USFP), emphasized the urgent need for the current government to provide a clear assessment of its tenure. He criticized the government for making new electoral promises as its term comes to an end, particularly the promise to raise the minimum wage to 5000 dirhams. Lachgar pointed out that over the past years, the USFP had previously proposed various measures aimed at increasing wages, supporting housing and agriculture, and reforming the tax system. However, he claimed that the government consistently rejected these proposals, citing a lack of financial resources to implement them.
Lachgar raised questions regarding the motivations behind the new promises being made as the government's term nears its conclusion. He asserted that initiatives not acted upon during five years of governance cannot be presented at the end of the term as fresh commitments to the citizens. He criticized what he termed "unrealistic electoral promises," urging the public to hold the ruling coalition accountable for their performance over the past five years. He affirmed that the USFP intends to approach the upcoming elections with a commitment to ensuring responsibility for the management of the previous term.
Moreover, Lachgar criticized the deteriorating relationship among the coalition members, noting that their discourse has shifted from collaboration to mutual accusations in recent times. He observed that as the end of the term approaches, coalition members are attempting to portray themselves as the sole achievers of any successes, while blaming others for the failures, emphasizing that the responsibility for governance remains shared among all coalition parties. He held the three parties forming the government coalition accountable for the outcomes of their management, urging voters to assess their performance collectively rather than in isolation.
Additionally, Lachgar expressed concern about how these internal conflicts within the coalition have affected Morocco's image and investment climate negatively. He deemed the political discourse's "irresponsibility" to be detrimental to the country's reputation abroad. In contrast, he defended the USFP's electoral program, asserting that the party was among the first to announce its electoral platform and noted that several proposals later introduced by other parties were closely aligned with the USFP's program. He highlighted a particular goal of reducing unemployment to 8%, which was soon echoed by other parties.
On the financial implications of the USFP's electoral program, Lachgar mentioned that the total projected cost would amount to 415 billion dirhams, stressing that proposals should be linked to clear and feasible programs rather than mere electoral promises. He criticized the apparent lack of new ideas in various electoral programs, suggesting that some proposals fail to address the daily struggles and living conditions of citizens.
Regarding the choice of Marrakech as the launch site for the party's electoral campaign, Lachgar explained that the city holds a significant place within Morocco, dubbing it the "central Moroccan capital." He highlighted the USFP's commitment to ensuring that Marrakech serves as the inaugural stop for their electoral campaign. He also noted the party's active presence in the Marrakech-Safi region, where they are fielding candidates in several electoral circles as part of their participation in the upcoming legislative elections.
Lachgar's remarks arrive amid an electoral context where parties are gearing up to present their programs and achievements to voters, while discussions intensify regarding economic and social promises and their correlation with the accomplishments of the outgoing government.
As reported by febrayer.com.
