Following the Istiqlal party, the Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM), another key player in the government coalition, has now criticized the Akhannouch administration's handling of certain sectors. During its meeting on Wednesday, March 12, the political bureau of the party did not hold back. The body «calls on the government to cancel the customs and tax exemptions aimed at lowering meat prices, as they have not had the desired effect». Positioning itself as a defender of Moroccans' purchasing power, the PAM expressed concern over «the price hikes and economic difficulties faced by many social groups». It urges the government to «iboost monitoring and take action against certain speculators and corrupt professionals who continue to exploit their networks to incite crises and profit from speculative activities», the PAM said in a statement. The party's criticism also extended to the government's action plan to boost employment by 2030, which is allocated 15 billion dirhams and was outlined in a circular from the head of government published last February. While acknowledging that «high unemployment is everyone's responsibility», the political bureau emphasized that «this new plan requires collective, responsible, and genuine commitment from all stakeholders, with a sophisticated national approach and real involvement from public authorities and elected officials». It's worth noting that the minister responsible for employment is Younes Sekkouri, a member of the PAM. These «friendly fire» incidents within the governing coalition are becoming more frequent. On January 11 in Casablanca, Nizar Baraka, the Secretary-General of the Istiqlal party, also criticized the poor results of the Akhannouch administration. As Morocco gears up for the 2026 legislative elections, 2025 promises to be a year of intense preparation for all parties, both in the majority and opposition, accompanied by its fair share of controversies.
