Moroccan MPs Push for Free High-Speed Train Travel Privileges

In a short time, their requests have received the approval of El Malki and Benchemass, their respective presidents, and also of Rabie Khlie, Director of the National Railway Office (ONCF), reports the360.ma.

The request was first approved by the Bureau of the House of Representatives. The approval of the House of Advisors will follow. For his part, the Director of ONCF has decided to make cards for the parliamentarians to allow them to travel free of charge on the train, Al Boraq.

Everything suggests that the parliamentarians are defending their interests to the best of their ability, to the detriment of that of the people. Their absenteeism in Parliament, even when it comes to issues of major interest, cries louder than their arguments.

And yet they are paid at the expense of the state. A remuneration of 32,800 dirhams is paid to every Moroccan parliamentarian. Moreover, this interest is increased by 7,000 dirhams if he holds a position within the two Chambers. He also has a free train pass (1st class), a fuel allowance of 800 dirhams/month, toll coverage, a hotel room in Rabat (700 dirhams) and a sum of 2,000 dirhams/day of pocket money when he travels abroad, not to mention the retirement pension, a subject of lively controversy.