Rabat Mayor Revives Controversial Car Booting Program, Sparking Backlash from Officials

"The board of directors of the ’Rabat Parking’ company has appointed the elements of the administrative police who have taken the oath before the administrative court. As a result, the said company will resume the management of the parking lots as it did before the decision of the former mayor to prohibit the immobilization of vehicles," announced the mayor of Rabat, Asmaa Rhlalou, recalling that the city council holds 51% of the capital of the "Rabat Parking" company against 49% for the CDG.

Barely announced, this decision is having a hard time passing. The district councils of Agdal-Riad and Hassan have simply rejected it, reports the Arabic-language daily Al Akhbar. According to them, "the return to the immobilization of vehicles aims to revitalize the ’Rabat Parking’ company, threatened with bankruptcy." Moreover, the districts concerned, particularly that of Hassan, house residential complexes and not public administrations and services.

Stressing that this decision would force the inhabitants to pay daily parking fees to Rabat Parking," these elected officials mention