HIBAPRESS – Loubna Abrouk
There is no talk in a number of national media outlets and social media platforms, in recent days, except about the incident of Madiha Khair's appointment to a government position, before she was relieved of her duties a short period later, not exceeding 48 hours.
The news spread like wildfire following a statement from the Royal Court on Sunday, officially announcing the dismissal of Madiha Khair from her duties as Minister Delegate responsible for Vocational Training and Skill Development in the new government.
The decision to dismiss, according to the statement, was made at the request of the Head of Government, and with the King's approval, in accordance with the provisions of Article 47 of the Constitution.
This decision coincided with a wide controversy in the media and social media platforms, following the circulation of a document said to be a medical certificate attributed to a specialist in psychiatry and mental health, dating back to 2004.
Some circulating accounts linked this document to previous judicial files related to financial suspicions and cases related to issuing bounced checks, in addition to allegations of fraud, deception, and forgery.
Following the dismissal decision, a clarification was issued by the official spokesperson for the government, Samir Belfkih, in which he confirmed that the exceptional handling of the judicial and medical data of a personal nature that accompanied Madiha Khair's appointment falls within the framework of the government's assumption of its responsibilities and its keenness to provide the favorable conditions for completing its constitutional formation process.
On the other hand, the silence of the Secretary-General of the Independence Party, Nizar Baraka, raised questions about the party leadership's position on this incident, especially since the person concerned belongs to the party he leads, and the repercussions of the case have gone beyond the limits of government appointment to raise questions about the criteria for selecting candidates for public responsibilities.
Party sources indicate that Baraka faced criticism from some party leaders and activists, in the context of his choice of Madiha Khair for ministerial appointment, at a time when a number of Independence Party figures aspired to obtain ministerial portfolios within the new government formation.
The same sources added that some voices within the party expressed reservations about the chosen names, as well as the distribution of ministerial portfolios among the majority components, considering that the party did not obtain some sectors it aspired to manage, given its position in the political scene.
According to our sources, Independence Party voices have demanded that Nizar Baraka provide clarifications regarding the circumstances of Khair's selection, in order to preserve the party's image and credibility before public opinion, at a time when the leadership chose to remain silent and contented itself with appointing Rahal Makawi as head of the Independence parliamentary group in the House of Representatives, succeeding Khair, while demanding her resignation from the council membership.
Will the official spokesperson for the National Rally of Independents party, Nizar Baraka, emerge from his shell to provide clarification and an apology to Moroccans about the Khair incident?
