Moroccan Author Criticizes Macron’s Handling of Diplomatic Crisis with Morocco

Discussing the tensions between the two countries, Tahar Ben Jelloun indicated that Emmanuel Macron has shown a lack of respect towards Mohammed VI, stressing that the Moroccan monarch gave his word to the French president that he had never spied on him using Pegasus, but in return, the latter responded in a very clumsy way, which led to the breakdown of relations.

Following this incident, the European Parliament had voted in January a resolution against Morocco. Tahar Ben Jelloun believes that in acting in this way, Emmanuel Macron thought he could tighten ties with Algeria, forgetting that this country does not intend to stop "profiting from the memorial rent." On this point, the French president made a strategic mistake towards Morocco, he concludes.

Tahar Ben Jelloun recalled that in the time of François Mitterrand, Jacques Chirac and Nicolas Sarkozy, there were contacts between the Élysée and Rabat to smooth out any misunderstandings or misunderstandings. But this mechanism was removed by Macron, well before the Pegasus affair occurred, he laments, while praising the relentless fight led by Morocco against extremists, jihadists and terrorists.