Moroccan minister criticised for praising government

Prime Minister Abdelilah Benkirane Activists in Morocco have criticised the information minister’s statement in which the latter praises the Islamist government headed by Abdelilah Benkirane . Activists launched the attack against the minister and member of the Secretariat of Justice and Development Party, Mustafa al-Khalfi, on Friday, stating: “Where are the achievements? Where is the government?”
During a speech for the party’s youth forum, Khalfi said: “A year and a half is enough to assess the government’s achievements; it has been very positive, despite all the difficulties and challenges in Morocco.”
He added: “The government is proud of these achievements, especially since its opponents have tried very hard to not let it work accordingly.”
The information minister went on to add that the country, as well as its citizens, should be “proud” of its institutions that “ensures security” and works to “maintain Morocco’s independence, sovereignty, and unity.”
"The government is part of this institutional building and is working within the framework of cooperation with other institutions under the leadership of King Mohammed VI,” Khalfi went on to say.
However, these comments have gone on to anger many in Morocco as the party's leader, Prime Minister Abdelilah Benkirane, has struggled to end a political crisis triggered by the nationalist Istiqlal Party's withdrawal from the coalition last month.
Less than two years after sweeping to power, Morocco's ruling Islamists look increasingly isolated, abandoned by their main coalition ally, criticised by the king and challenge by similar movements.