Suspicious Loyalty and Questionable Positions: Has the Justice and Development Party Become Iran’s Agent in Morocco?
In a scene that encapsulates the identity crisis faced by the Justice and Development Party (PJD), the party is heading towards its ninth national conference amidst a series of decisions that reveal a stark contradiction in its priorities. While it refuses the invitation of Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch, the first secretary of the Socialist Union of Popular Forces, Idriss Lachgar, and other national leaders, it opens its doors to a delegation from the Palestinian Hamas movement and Lebanese Hezbollah, as if it were a regional branch of an organization rather than a Moroccan political party. This paradox not only reflects a disconnection in vision but also uncovers the depth of the strategic crisis the party is experiencing.
The justifications presented by the party for excluding national figures crumble when compared to the warm reception it extends to a foreign delegation. If Akhannouch’s exclusion is justified by “conflict of interests,” what is the logical explanation for hosting representatives of a movement completely unrelated to the Moroccan political reality? Moreover, the leaders of this movement have positions against the territorial integrity of the kingdom and have frequently expressed their support for the Polisario Front; isn’t this compelling evidence that the party has lost its national compass and has become a prisoner of narrow viewpoints that confuse strategic priorities with emotional stances?
Behind these decisions looms the long shadow of Abdelilah Benkirane, who seems to have transformed the party into his personal “barracks.” The party that was once a political force has now come to orbit around a leader who prefers confrontation over dialogue and retreat over openness. Benkirane, who displayed clear confusion in his recent media appearance regarding national issues, insists on leading the party towards further isolation.
The national conference, which could have been an opportunity for reflection and renewal, under this leadership turns into a platform for settling scores. Instead of serving as a station for constructive national dialogue, it becomes a stage for ideological posturing that yields no tangible benefits. Isn’t it ironic that a party that is purportedly part of the democratic system rejects the simplest rules of sound political practice?
The greatest contradiction appears in the party’s criteria for engaging with partners. While excluding national political forces, it seeks legitimacy from foreign alliances. This duality raises an existential question: Is this party still qualified to represent any segment of the Moroccan population, or has it become merely a echo of outdated visions long past their prime?
Today, the Justice and Development Party stands at a critical crossroads. It must either return to its national roots and engage in the political fray with a sense of responsibility, or continue its slide towards marginalization. Morocco, which is changing rapidly, cannot afford parties that live in the past and insist on adopting discourses that reality has surpassed.
