Benkirane apologizes to El Othmani and clarifies controversial remarks

21:00

Benkirane seeks to defuse tensions over remarks about El Othmani

Abdelilah Benkirane, secretary-general of Morocco’s Justice and Development Party (PJD), has sought to put an end to a controversy surrounding recent comments he made about former Prime Minister Saad Dine El Othmani.

The dispute emerged after a shortened video clip from a speech delivered by Benkirane at a PJD gathering in Nouaceur circulated widely on social media. The excerpt prompted reactions suggesting that the former head of government had directed criticism at El Othmani.

In a statement published on his official Facebook page, Benkirane argued that the circulated sequence did not provide the full context of his remarks. He said his comments were made while responding to what he described as a “cowardly attack” by Abdelatif Ouahbi.

Benkirane also said that, when he made the remarks, he had not been aware that El Othmani was taking part in the ongoing electoral campaign.

A relationship shaped by decades of political work

Seeking to clarify his position, the PJD leader emphasized the longstanding relationship between himself and El Othmani. The two figures have spent decades working within the same political movement and have held senior positions during the party’s evolution in Moroccan politics.

Benkirane stressed that political disagreements should not be interpreted as a rejection of the personal esteem he holds for his former colleague. He reiterated his respect and appreciation for El Othmani while acknowledging that the two men may differ over political assessments and specific positions.

His clarification comes as the PJD navigates an electoral environment in which public statements by senior figures can quickly become the subject of political debate, particularly when excerpts circulate without their broader context.

Concerns over El Othmani’s campaign involvement

Despite his expression of respect, Benkirane maintained his criticism of El Othmani’s participation in certain campaign-related activities.

According to the PJD secretary-general, some of these appearances could potentially be used by the party’s opponents to fuel criticism directed at both El Othmani and the PJD. His comments therefore reflected what he presented as a political judgment rather than an intention to personally discredit the former prime minister.

The distinction was central to Benkirane’s subsequent clarification, as he sought to separate his political disagreement from his personal relationship with El Othmani.

Public apology follows social media controversy

Benkirane ultimately went further by apologizing directly to his former political colleague. He acknowledged that his public appeal for El Othmani to refrain from certain activities could have been perceived as offensive.

He said the remark was not intended to insult El Othmani and asked him to accept his apology.

The clarification effectively shifts the focus from an apparent personal confrontation toward a broader disagreement over political conduct during the electoral period. It also underlines the growing influence of social media in shaping the interpretation of political statements, where isolated excerpts can rapidly generate controversy before the full context becomes available.