Aziz Akhannouch, Morocco’s Head of Government and leader of the National Rally of Independents (RNI), addressed the party’s National Council meeting in Rabat on Saturday, emphasizing the event as an annual democratic platform to define priorities and strategies for Morocco’s development.
Akhannouch underlined the symbolic importance of holding the meeting on January 11, a day commemorating the historic unity between the monarchy and the Moroccan people. He praised King Mohammed VI for his unwavering efforts in safeguarding Morocco’s territorial integrity and sovereignty amidst separatist threats.
Reflecting on his government’s accomplishments over the past three years, Akhannouch outlined significant achievements aimed at improving Moroccans’ daily lives and securing their future. He stressed the need for continued collective efforts to advance national priorities and strengthen economic and social foundations.
Key Achievements:
- Social Protection: A 10-billion-dirham allocation to expand social protection programs, including universal health insurance, increasing the number of Moroccans with full health coverage to 10 million.
- Healthcare Reform: Increasing the health sector budget from 19 billion dirhams in 2021 to over 32 billion dirhams, with 800 out of 1,400 primary healthcare centers already rehabilitated under a plan extending to 2025.
- Support for Citizens: Initiatives to enhance purchasing power, including maintaining subsidies through the Compensation Fund (16.5 billion dirhams) and eliminating income tax for retirees.
- Local Governance Strengthening: Raising local governments’ share of value-added tax revenue from 30% to 32%, addressing longstanding demands of local officials.
Akhannouch expressed gratitude to King Mohammed VI for declaring the Amazigh New Year a national holiday and prioritizing family issues. He called for incorporating updates to the Family Code into the RNI’s agenda to ensure reforms align with Morocco’s values while addressing contemporary challenges.
The Prime Minister also praised Morocco’s diplomatic successes, citing increased international recognition of Morocco’s sovereignty over the Sahara from key nations such as France, Spain, and the United States. He emphasized the need for vigilance and active mobilization to counter opposition maneuvers and noted the party’s commitment to leveraging parliamentary diplomacy to advance Morocco’s stance globally.
On the Palestinian issue, Akhannouch reaffirmed Morocco’s unwavering commitment under King Mohammed VI’s leadership, condemning Israeli aggression and supporting a two-state solution with East Jerusalem as the capital of a sovereign Palestinian state.
Looking forward, Akhannouch highlighted the government’s focus on employment and water resource management during its second term. He urged the RNI’s affiliated organizations to enhance their performance, describing the council meeting as a pivotal moment for the party’s operations.
He concluded by reaffirming the RNI’s dedication to serving Moroccans, guided by the principles of responsibility, democracy, and ethical governance under King Mohammed VI’s leadership.
