Two Moroccan Opposition Parties Call for Confronting ‘Government Dominance’

Idris Lachkar and Nabil Benabdallah during the signing of the joint political statement. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Idris Lachkar and Nabil Benabdallah during the signing of the joint political statement. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Two Moroccan Opposition Parties Call for Confronting ‘Government Dominance’

Idris Lachkar and Nabil Benabdallah during the signing of the joint political statement. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Idris Lachkar and Nabil Benabdallah during the signing of the joint political statement. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Two Moroccan opposition parties, the Socialist Union of Popular Forces and the Party of Progress and Socialism, have called for confronting “the numerical dominance of the government”.

In a joint statement issued on Friday, they urged the formation of a national front and the emergence of a civilian movement.

The statement was issued following a meeting on Friday between Idris Lachkar, General Secretary of the Socialist Union of Popular Forces, and Nabil Benabdallah, General Secretary of the Party of Progress and Socialism in Rabat.

A joint committee was established for coordination between both parties.

Moreover, the political bureaus of these parties held a consultive meeting.

The institutions have lost the necessary balance to achieve democracy and development following the 2021 elections that were overwhelmed by corrupt practices, according to the statement.

The parties stressed that the national front should be tasked with inserting a new spirit into politics in order to restore the status of political and partisan activity, reconcile citizens with public affairs, restore confidence in political, institutional, and electoral work, and provide decent conditions for political competence and intact elections.

They highlighted that the current economic and social challenges are an opportunity to carry out reforms, further expressing willingness to perform their institutional and public tasks in a committed and patriotic manner in all sectors.



UN Rights Chief Arrives in Syria for First Ever Visit

Volker Turk, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, attends a news conference at the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland, December 6, 2023. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse/File Photo
Volker Turk, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, attends a news conference at the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland, December 6, 2023. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse/File Photo
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UN Rights Chief Arrives in Syria for First Ever Visit

Volker Turk, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, attends a news conference at the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland, December 6, 2023. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse/File Photo
Volker Turk, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, attends a news conference at the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland, December 6, 2023. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse/File Photo

United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk arrived in Syria's capital, Damascus, on Tuesday for the first ever visit of the global body's rights chief to the country.

Turk, an Austrian lawyer, will visit Syria and Lebanon from Jan. 14-16 and meet with officials, civil society groups, diplomats and UN bodies, the UN statement said, without giving further details.

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad was driven from power by a lightening opposition offensive last month, ending 50 years of family rule and raising hopes for accountability for crimes committed during Syria's more than 13 year civil war.

According to Reuters, under Assad, many UN officials and rights groups were denied access to the country to investigate alleged violations.

A spokesperson for Turk's office did not immediately provide further details of how many times he or his predecessors had tried to gain access to the country. The role of High Commissioner for Human Rights was created in 1993.