Mehdi Mezouari, member of the USFP, returned in an interview with Médias24 on the news of the Party, in particular the 11th Congress of the Rose Party, scheduled in less than two weeks. The interview focused primarily on the likely third term of USFP First Secretary Driss Lachguar.
On this point, Mehdi Mezouari first made it clear that so far, Driss Lachguar “is neither a candidate nor an applicant for a third term”. And to recall that it is “almost all of the socialists who are asking that Driss Lachguar seek a new mandate”, “as a pledge of stability, but also to capitalize on the victories and the achievements accomplished during his two mandates”, underlined Mehdi Mezouari.
The latter, like many activists, is firmly convinced that Driss Lachguar is a unifier. Moreover, he would be in the best position to succeed in future missions and meet the challenges that will arise in the future.
Fearing that this third term would risk going badly with public opinion, Mehdi Mezouari reassured by explaining that in this case “our role will be precisely to explain to citizens the importance of a third term of Driss Lachguar” while brushing aside the idea that the change of statutes would be anti-institutional because it would have been carried out at the last minute and supposedly on the sly. “Nothing was done on the sly,” refuted Mezouari. And to add: “This is a public decision of the National Council. Moreover, there were no real changes in the statutes, but simple amendments to the provisions relating to the state of health alert”.
Regarding a possible revolt or internal dispute, Mehdi Mezouari indicated that the Party “has always known controversies and divisions” And to hope that the revolt mentioned “remains within a legal framework and a certain morality”. Then, to the question: Is it true that intense preparation work is currently taking place to mobilize executives and activists to come forward, in order to support Driss Lachguar and force him to present himself?, Mehdi Mezouari rejected the Hypothesis of any lobbying: “Nobody obliges anybody. It is true that many voices within the Party are in favor of a third term for the outgoing First Secretary. And the current intense preparation work is simply due to the deadlines to be met in two weeks”.
Precisely, speaking of the deadline for the 11th Congress which is fast approaching, Mehdi Mezouari stressed that the USFP will be the first party to organize a Congress within the framework of the state of health emergency, hence the intensive preparation. A health situation which also raises the question of the postponement of the Congress. A scenario ruled out by Mezouari: “The USFP will comply to the letter with all the provisions enacted by the authorities, with PCR tests at the entrance to Congress which will, moreover, be partly digitized”.
Moreover, if Driss Lachguar is re-elected, it would in no way be a default choice, due to any lack of succession. “We have great skills and activists who can fulfill the function of First Secretary because we are a breeding ground for executives”, assured Mehdi Mezouari, while recalling that a person like Driss Lachguar is the only one to have “as many assets for this period of transition”.
In addition, Mehdi Mezouari returned to the links which unite the USFP and the RNI: “We were indeed very close to the RNI”. And to explain: “Because we were allies with the government with convergences on several subjects. That said, times are changing and political divisions have emerged.” Divisions which push the party of the Rose to “accomplish its mission of the first party of the opposition, which consists in criticizing what must be it in the respect of the democracy of our country”, added Mezouari.
Concluding the interview, Mehdi Mezouari first confirmed that the disappearance of the USFP will never take place “because whatever happens, it will remain the first party of the Moroccan left”. Then, he affirmed that on a personal level, “I don’t believe in a union of Moroccan leftists because I am convinced that it will end up breaking up very quickly. Especially since the USFP is not in the same register as the populist left or that which flirts with the Islamists”.
As a reminder, a little earlier in the week, Mehdi Mezouari was also invited to the set of the program “L’info en face” broadcast on the web platform of the newspaper Le Matin.
Asked about his assessment of the first three months of the new government, the member of the Political Bureau of the USFP considered that “this symbolic milestone was inconsistent in government actions and initiatives compared to electoral programs”.
Regarding the USFP and its 11th Congress, Mehdi Mezouari reaffirmed that “hundreds and hundreds of activists from all over the Kingdom debated for a week all the political and organizational resolutions while making proposals in Congress” so as to avoid any split within the party. As proof, the amendment adopted in September to allow the current secretary general of the party, Driss Lachguar, to run for a third term. A reality that Mehdi Mezouari has linked to the health situation which imposes a certain continuity.
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