Moroccan Opposition Leader Urges Patience Amid Price Surge, Backs PM Akhannouch

"Of course, there is a surge in prices, but I do not agree that he should leave right now. I want us to give him at least a year to straighten out the socio-economic situation," said Abdelilah Benkirane during the National Council of his party held on Saturday in Bouznika. According to him, his departure would be a bad indicator for a stable country. "I do not agree that Aziz Akhannouch should leave at a time when prices are soaring because he would be the only head of government who has led the Executive not to have fully completed his term, after Abderrahman El Youssoufi, Abbas El Fassi, myself and Saâdeddine El Othmani," added the Islamist leader.

"Only the government of Abbas El Fassi was disrupted and did not fully complete its term," at the end of 2011. "What image are we going to give as a stable state with its traditions, if Akhannouch leaves after only five months of mission," wondered the former head of government. "If after a reasonable period of at least one year, it appears that Akhannouch has failed and has contributed to creating a serious situation [...], then it will be necessary for" King Mohammed VI "to announce new" early "elections," Abdelilah Benkirane continued, specifying that it will be a question of holding "new elections and not of replacing Aziz Akhannouch with another name".