Between “How much does a Soussi live on?” and dancing on Gaza’s wounds… Benkirane reveals his shifting populist face
Express TV: Mustafa Filali
In a time where events accelerate and positions change rapidly, Abdelilah Benkirane, Secretary-General of the Justice and Development Party, continues to present populist performances that perplex and astonish observers.
This week in the capital, Rabat, Benkirane emerged with resonant “moral” words, denouncing the beating of the drum while evoking the tragedy in Gaza, invoking the values of honor and humanity in a speech he believes resonates with the Moroccan people. However, things swiftly take a 180-degree turn when he reaches Agadir.
There, in the heart of Souss, Benkirane forgot about the drum and Gaza, and instead of remaining silent during a period of sympathy, he found himself singing and dancing enthusiastically with an Amazigh group, raising his stick and engaging with the rhythms of traditional “Ahwash,” in a scene that starkly contrasts the official discourse and reality.
This dance was not merely a moment of joy; it revealed the duality of a political discourse unafraid to manipulate situations to serve its electoral and populist interests. In Rabat, entertainment is forbidden for “others,” while in his party’s stronghold in the south, it is permissible and desired.
Let us not forget that Benkirane’s previous statements that provoked the population of Souss, particularly the question “How much does a Soussi live on?” which left a scar in the hearts of citizens, came back to haunt him in his appearances. Yet, he tries to remedy the situation with a dance here and a laugh there, as if attempting to extinguish the flames of anger with the clamor of drums.
This scene presents us with a clear truth: Benkirane is a skilled player in the game of populism, distributing his positions according to the audience and the occasion, appearing as a “fighter” in one moment and a “performer” swaying to the rhythm of his contradictions in another.
Ultimately, the Moroccan citizen is faced with a renewed version of the fickle politician, who speaks loudly in Parliament and dances to the beat of drums in the squares, while questions of credibility and commitment hang in the air, hoping for a clear and straightforward answer.
