Political Tension in El Jadida Following Statements by the President of Ouled Afrej Commune
The political landscape in El Jadida has become contentious following remarks made by the president of Ouled Afrej Commune, Othman Tartouni, hinting at a possible candidacy for the presidency of El Jadida Commune. He claimed to have played a crucial role in securing significant funding for the renovation of Jibran Khalil Jibran Street in El Jadida.
These statements, which coincided with the appointment of the new governor, elicited varied reactions within the elected circles of El Jadida. Several local officials expressed that Tartouni’s comments do not reflect the ongoing projects in the city and are rather linked to an early electoral campaign.
In this context, Banasir Rafiq, a parliamentarian from El Jadida and the vice president of El Jadida Commune responsible for major works, issued a statement expressing his surprise at the remarks. He emphasized that the renovation project in question is part of an institutional partnership involving El Jadida Commune, the Casablanca-Settat Regional Council, the provincial authority, and the Office Cherifien des Phosphates. He added that the management of this project is conducted according to a clear action plan overseen by the relevant municipal authorities.
Rafiq pointed out that urban rehabilitation projects in El Jadida are carried out within a collective vision that considers available resources and the needs of the residents. He highlighted that attributing credit for these efforts to a single party does not accurately reflect the reality of collaborative institutional work. He also clarified that the cooperation among the ruling majority, including the Istiqlal Party, is based on coordination and mutual respect.
On the other hand, Othman Tartouni has not issued any further clarification regarding his controversial statements, as local discussions continue about the nature of political roles within the province and the limits of developmental advocacy between municipalities.
The coming days are expected to see more engagement from various political actors in El Jadida, especially given the approaching local electoral events and the discussions surrounding administrative performance and ongoing development projects in the region.
