سليمان الريسوني | البام دار التويزة وسالاها بالتويزي.. القصر هو من يختار رئيس البرلمان؟

Summary

Suleiman Raissouni argues that the election of the Speaker of Morocco’s House of Representatives is not decided solely by MPs’ independent choices. In his view, the Royal Palace and security establishment can shape outcomes indirectly, and parliamentary votes often reflect prior political pressure or bargains.

To illustrate what he sees as parliament’s dependence on the Palace, Raissouni contrasts MPs’ silence over Spain’s King Felipe VI’s visit to Melilla with the stronger parliamentary response to a Spanish royal visit in 2007, which followed a statement from King Mohammed VI. He interprets the current silence as evidence that parliament will not challenge the Palace’s position.

Raissouni also argues that Spain’s 2022 statements describing Ceuta as Spanish territory, alongside its support for Morocco’s autonomy proposal for Western Sahara, suggest a tacit trade-off. These are his political interpretations; he presents them as claims that Morocco did not publicly contest.

Raissouni cites earlier government and parliamentary appointments as further examples of Palace influence. He says that, in 2016, Aziz Akhannouch was brought in to lead the National Rally of Independents partly to obstruct Abdelilah Benkirane’s efforts to form a government. He also notes that Habib El Malki of the Socialist Union became Speaker despite his party’s low electoral ranking.

He recounts an anecdote in which Rachid Talbi Alami allegedly said that the government—not the parliamentary groups—decided which MPs joined overseas delegations. Raissouni further claims that the King had personally indicated that Talbi Alami should become Speaker.

Applying this analysis to Ahmed Touizi, Raissouni says Touizi’s political career across several parties and comparatively quiet manner make him a suitable candidate from the Palace’s perspective. He contrasts him with Abdelatif Ouahbi, whom he describes as too outspoken. Raissouni also questions the convention of having the oldest MP chair the election session, arguing that a more capable or knowledgeable MP would be preferable.

Raissouni says the vote revealed divisions among opposition parties: Idriss El Azami received 59 votes despite the opposition having 54 seats, while the left-wing alliance abstained. He interprets this as evidence that the opposition is fragmented and unable to coordinate effectively.

He also criticizes the Socialist Union and the Party of Progress and Socialism for entering government coalitions to preserve their political networks and influence, describing this as part of a recurring pattern of patronage and political self-interest.

Presenter

• Suleiman Raissouni (sole presenter and commentator)