HIBAPRESS – Yassine Damiri
The controversy surrounding the nomination and subsequent dismissal of Madiha Khayyer from her ministerial post by royal decree, responding to a request from the Prime Minister, has caused a stir and anger within the Istiqlal Party. The party appears to be experiencing internal divisions, particularly since the issuance of election nominations signed by Nizar Baraka.
According to information from within the party, Istiqlal voices have risen, demanding that the Secretary-General, Nizar Baraka, step down from leading the party. This development brings to the forefront the debate surrounding the management of internal affairs and the criteria for selecting candidates for electoral and governmental responsibilities.
These demands, according to the same data obtained from within the party, come in the context of internal criticism from Istiqlal activists regarding Nizar Baraka's handling of numerous organizational and political files. This has been accompanied by discussions about the extent of adherence to transparency and equal opportunity rules within the party.
Critics of Baraka believe that the incident of nominating Madiha Khayyer, who was dismissed by royal decree, necessitates the immediate resignation of the party's Secretary-General, along with urgent clarifications about the background of the nomination and the mechanisms adopted in decision-making related to the distribution of responsibilities.
Based on internal data, there is significant tension among the organizations of the "Al-Mizan" party regarding the party's leadership, especially Nizar Baraka. This tension has been amplified by the legislative election nominations, where in several constituencies, nominations were granted to figures presented with the party's colors at the expense of activists who had sacrificed for years. Initial nominations granted in some constituencies to popular candidates were also withdrawn and ultimately given to "wealthy individuals" and figures with family ties and connections to known entities within the party. Some were nominated on the basis of being "from the diaspora."
Baraka's critics demand his resignation to preserve the reputation and cohesion of the party, which, according to them, has become the subject of political salons due to successive scandals that have shaken its internal affairs. They call for prioritizing the supreme interest of a historic party over narrow interests and personal gains, which could further exacerbate the situation, especially in light of indications that a number of activists intend to break their silence. This could open thorny files that might undermine the remaining internal cohesion of Allal El Fassi's party.
