Justice Minister Abdellatif Ouahbi has defended his controversial decision to ban associations from taking legal action against elected officials and public leaders for «misappropriation of public funds» under the new criminal procedure law. «Let's allow institutions to do their job. The fight against corruption is often misused for other purposes», he said during an interview with Med Radio. «If these associations were truly effective, they would deserve this right. But in reality, they are part of the corruption problem. I constantly receive complaints about their fraudulent practices». Speaking with the confidence of his former role as a lawyer, Ouahbi added, «The reputation, dignity, and honor of individuals should not be used for political point-scoring». He continued, «Can the State stand by while someone commits theft? I don't understand that logic. Can national security and the public prosecutor's office remain passive in the face of such crimes? The same goes for the Court of Auditors». Ouahbi also accused opposition parties of stoking the controversy around corruption, claiming «it's the easiest path for them». It's worth noting that two constitutional bodies, the Economic, Social and Environmental Council (CESE) and the National Human Rights Council (CNDH), have criticized Article 3 of the draft criminal procedure law, which bars associations from filing corruption cases against elected officials and public leaders. Despite these criticisms, the House of Representatives adopted the bill in a second reading on July 22, with nearly 330 MPs absent during the vote.
