The opposition refuses to extend the “state of health emergency” and asks the government for explanations
The government has extended the state of health emergency in Morocco, which has drawn popular and parliamentary criticism, given the need for many sectors to find new life.
Opponents of the extension were surprised until the end of next May, noting that the epidemiological situation is very stable, and that many spaces have opened their doors.
As a reminder, the government council has decided to extend the state of health emergency until May 31, 2022 at 6 p.m. This announcement was made by the Minister Delegate in charge of Relations with Parliament, government spokesperson, Mustapha Baitas during a press briefing at the end of this council.
The Council thus approved draft decree No. 2-21-955 extending the duration of effect of the state of health emergency throughout the national territory to deal with the extension of the coronavirus.
A law proposal from the Party of Progress and Socialism stopped at the need to clarify the health emergency procedure, considering the issuance of communications only as “a disregard for social issues“. But the government has not interacted with him for almost two months.
Nabila Mounib, secretary general of the Unified Socialist Party, noted that “the state of emergency no longer makes sense, and it must be withdrawn”pointing out that “many specialists believe that the world has entered the phase of coexistence with the epidemic”.
Mounib added, in a statement to MoroccoLatestNews, that “ the current situation does not call for this extension”noting that “The question was understood at the beginning of the virus, without knowing all the details, but now it turns out that it is not dangerous”.
The same spokesperson said: the State is aware of this file, and has allowed many spaces to become more flexible, but it wants to exploit the state of emergency to restrict freedoms and serious opposition, as well as to perpetuate the absence of a real health strategy.
Rachid Hamouni, head of the Progress and Socialism team in the House of Representatives, confirmed that“the decision of this extension is strange considering the opening of borders, mosques and stadiums, with many other mitigating measures”.
Hamouni added, in a statement to MoroccoLatestNews, that“The recommendations issued by the Scientific Committee on the coronavirus are no longer going towards rigor. We submitted a proposal to reconsider the health emergency two months ago, but without interaction”.
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