A recent European Parliament resolution condemning the deterioration of press freedom in Morocco "
does not commit France
", according to its ambassador to Morocco, while Paris is accused of having orchestrated an anti-Moroccan campaign in Brussels.
"
The resolution of the European Parliament does not commit France
in any way ," said Christophe Lecourtier in an interview on the front page this weekend of the French-language weekly Tel Quel, after this vote triggered a cold snap between Rabat and Paris.
Read also“No crisis with Morocco”, assures Paris
“
We are accountable for the decisions of the French authorities, the European Parliament is far from our authority, these are personalities who have been elected
”, explains the diplomat who has just taken up his post at the end of December.
“
The French government cannot be held responsible for MEPs
,” insists Lecourtier.
On January 19, the European Parliament adopted by a large majority a resolution calling on the Moroccan authorities to “
respect freedom of expression and freedom of the media
” and to put an end to the “
harassment of all journalists
”.
Several independent and opposition journalists have been convicted on sexual charges, which human rights NGOs say were "
fabricated
" by the Moroccan authorities.
For the latter, these cases "
have nothing to do
" with freedom of expression.
The MEPs' text -- non-binding -- also mentions Rabat's alleged involvement in the corruption scandal that has rocked the European Parliament since December.
Since then, the Moroccan political class and the media close to the government have not taken off against Paris.
A parliamentarian, Lahcen Haddad, denounced "
the French deep state
" according to him at the origin of the resolution, regretting that "
a close friend of the French presidency
", Stéphane Séjourné, leader of the centrist group Renaissance (Renew) in Brussels , was "
one of the architects
".
Paris has so far refuted the existence of any crisis with Rabat, even if the announced prospect of a state visit by President Emmanuel Macron to the Cherifian kingdom seems to be moving away.
Beyond the vote of the MEPs, France is criticized for dragging its feet on the question of Western Sahara, unlike the United States and Spain, which have recognized the "
Moroccan nature
" of this territory, a "
national cause
" .
in Morocco.
In addition, the recent rapprochement between France and Algeria, Morocco's regional rival, continues to cause bitterness in Rabat.
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