RN appoints unfriendly president of France-Morocco friendship group
«The Rassemblement National doesn't give a damn about Morocco», burst a member of the French left last December, when we revealed the Macronist MPs' gift of the presidency of the France-Morocco friendship group to the RN. At the time, sources within the National Assembly mentioned the names of Marine Le Pen (who dreams of being received by the King of Morocco like her late father) and Sébastien Chenu. The presidency of the France-Morocco Friendship Group is highly sought-after and could have served to boost the international image of an RN MP.
But while RN was keen to hold on to this friendship group despite the adverse reactions our revelations caused in Paris and Rabat, it clearly has little respect for Morocco. The recent appointment of Hélène Laporte as president of the friendship group is proof of this. The MP for the 2nd constituency of Lot-et-Garonne has little regard for the Kingdom and French-Moroccans.
???? Très honorée d'avoir été nommée Présidente du groupe d'amitié France-Maroc à l'Assemblée nationale et de participer au renforcement de nos liens avec les membres de la Chambre des Représentants marocaine. pic.twitter.com/sGO5Bj3Vb2
— Hélène Laporte (@HeleneLaporteRN) January 29, 2025
The former wealth management consultant risks demolishing the entire edifice of parliamentary diplomacy between the two countries, slowly built up by her predecessors and encouraged by President Macron during his official visit at the end of October 2024. In December 2022, having just been elected to the National Assembly a few months earlier, she criticized the Moroccan supporters who had come out to celebrate the magnificent victory of Morocco's national team over Spain. «In Lille, Nice, and Amiens, the situation is degenerating, giving way to scenes of urban guerrilla warfare over a simple Moroccan football victory... Any pretext is good enough to sow disorder. The feeling of impunity is total!»
An unfriendly president for the friendship group
But it's not just the noisy Moroccan supporters that irritate the far-right politician. Her other obsession is Moroccan tomatoes. On March 12, 2024, she criticized the«unfair competition» from Moroccan tomato exporters, who benefit from the agricultural agreement with the EU. She demanded that the French Minister of Agriculture renegotiate this agreement with Brussels to re-evaluate customs duties to the detriment of Moroccan farmers. More recently, on January 15, 2025, just as the France-Morocco friendship group had officially been assigned to the RN, the MP, not yet president of the group, again called for a review of «the agreement linking us to Morocco, which provides for exemptions from customs duties on tomato imports, including during the summer season».
? Bonjour @AnnieGenevard, profitez de votre visite au #Maroc avec Monsieur Macron pour mettre fin à l'accord commercial visant à exonérer de droits de douane la tomate marocaine et qui place nos agriculteurs ?? dans une situation de concurrence déloyale invivable depuis 2012 ! pic.twitter.com/wg4EeaeA3S
— Hélène Laporte (@HeleneLaporteRN) October 30, 2024
You can't blame an MP from Lot-et-Garonne for defending the Marmande tomato and the farmers in her constituency, especially as Ms. Laporte is close to the Confédération rurale, the farmers' union close to the RN. Nor did her agricultural activism spare the Kingdom's cucumbers. Her perseverance in attacking Morocco and Moroccans makes her a strange president of the France-Morocco friendship group.
How could the RN have made such a gross casting error, risking the ire of Rabat? Especially as the Morocco-EU agricultural agreement is a sensitive issue for the Moroccan government. What, then, can be expected of a president who has never spoken out on the Western Sahara issue, unlike other elected members of the RN, as well as the former president of the France-Morocco friendship group, Karim Ben Cheikh?
? Retrouvez ma question écrite à la Commission européenne sur les fonds débloqués pour le Maroc. Pour le @GroupeID_FR, on est CONTRE ! https://t.co/4pQ8H1LIUM
— Hélène Laporte (@HeleneLaporteRN) April 30, 2020
The new president will have to multiply efforts to reassure her Moroccan counterparts and put her anti-Moroccan media outbursts and amendments hostile to Moroccan interests behind her.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Morocco World
4 hours ago
- Morocco World
Sahara: French Senate Affirms Support for Moroccan Sovereignty in Rabat Talks
Doha – French Senator Christian Cambon reaffirmed his country's firm support for Morocco's sovereignty over its southern provinces during a meeting on Thursday in Rabat with Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita. The visit marked a continuation of high-level exchanges between the two nations, following French President Emmanuel Macron's state visit to Morocco in October 2024. Cambon, who heads the France-Morocco friendship group in the Senate, led a delegation described as 'important' and 'diverse,' with members from different political backgrounds. He stressed the 'longstanding' and 'fruitful' dialogue between the two countries, noting the group's 'unwavering support' for Morocco's position on the Western Sahara dispute. 'The 2024–2025 period was marked by many positive developments,' Cambon said after the meeting. He pointed to Macron's visit as a milestone where France declared its support for Morocco's territorial integrity. Cambon said the delegation's visit aimed to contribute to writing 'a new chapter' in Moroccan-French relations, as envisioned by King Mohammed VI and President Macron. He also called for the reactivation of the Morocco-France interparliamentary forum, last held in Paris in December 2019, to boost bilateral cooperation on legislative affairs. The French lawmaker cited several areas of joint interest, including the expansion of Morocco's high-speed rail line, the construction of Africa's largest seawater desalination plant near Rabat, and the agreement between Royal Air Maroc and Airbus to expand the national airline's fleet. On renewable energy, Cambon framed Morocco's experience and model as 'inspiring,' saying both countries can cooperate on shaping a joint vision for Africa's energy future. His statements come just months after a high-profile visit by French Senate President Gérard Larcher, who in February became one of the highest-ranking French officials to visit Laayoune. Speaking after a morning meeting with Bourita in Rabat, Larcher said Paris' position on the Sahara is 'non-discutable' and made clear that the French-Moroccan relationship is built on 'a deep history and friendship.' Later that evening in the southern Moroccan city, he labeled Morocco's southern provinces as 'a success model for the entire Sahelo-Saharan zone.' He credited the French Senate with pushing for clarity on the issue since 2007 and asserted that support for Morocco's autonomy plan is now 'acquired.' For him, France's new perspective on the Western Sahara dispute and the evolution of the French position is 'an obvious fact, a primary truth.' 'This obvious fact has undergone a long maturation process,' he said. 'France's support is not the result of a governmental policy—it is the position of all institutions of the Republic.' He described Morocco's development efforts in Laâyoune as remarkable, pointing to infrastructure, social investments, and sustainable development projects. He also expressed France's willingness to share its experience in decentralization and strengthen cooperation at the local level. Algeria reacted with anger to Larcher's visit. Days after his trip, Algeria's Council of the Nation, the country's upper house of parliament, announced it was suspending ties with the French Senate. The Algerian government had already condemned France's July 2024 recognition of Moroccan sovereignty and recalled its ambassador in protest. Algeria also criticized the February visit by French Culture Minister Rachida Dati to Laayoune and Dakhla—another first for a high-level French government official. Tags: French Senate Morocco visitMorocco France RelationsWestern sahara
Morocco World
8 hours ago
- Morocco World
Moroccan Activists Denounce Detention in Egypt Ahead of Global March to Gaza
Rabat – A group of Moroccan activists heading to Egypt to join an international march in support of Palestinians in Gaza were detained and questioned by Egyptian authorities in Cairo. The activists are part of the Global March to Gaza, an international mass effort aiming to break the blockade on Gaza and push for humanitarian access. Among those targeted were several Moroccans who had all the required documents, including valid visas and confirmed travel plans. Still, they were held for hours at Cairo airport, and at least 12 Moroccans were deported without explanation, says one Moroccan activist in a video shared on social media. He described the ordeal as degrading and unjust. 'We arrived with everything in order … visas, tickets, guarantees,' he said. 'Still, we were detained for over three hours. Some of us were eventually allowed in, but 12 people from our flight were deported.' According to the activist, the conditions were psychologically draining, with some people crammed into holding areas with no clear information on what was happening. One elderly woman with diabetes had insulin in her bag, but when she informed the authorities, 'they completely ignored her,' he added. The experience left many shaken. 'The treatment was humiliating,' the activist said, describing the handling of peaceful marchers as more befitting of a 'thuggish regime' than a nation that claims to respect international visitors. 'The activists who came to join the march wouldn't have come to Egypt in the first place if Egypt had fulfilled its duty and truly worked to lift the blockade on Gaza. It failed to do so, and even blocked others who tried to apply pressure to lift it,' he concluded. The Egyptian authorities have not issued any official comment. But according to march spokesperson Saif Abukeshek, over 200 people, including nationals from Morocco, Algeria, France, Spain, the United States, and Australia, among other, were either detained, questioned, or deported. He told AFP that plainclothes officers entered hotels with lists of names, conducted interrogations, and confiscated personal belongings. Some were released, others were sent back. Abukeshek said 20 French citizens were held for 18 hours at the airport, and shared videos showed dozens of people stuck in a holding room with their luggage. The Global March to Gaza is a coordinated international action where thousands of people from more than 40 countries planned to travel to the Rafah border crossing on Friday. The aim is to deliver humanitarian aid and raise global pressure to end the blockade on Gaza. Many of the marchers were supposed to travel to El-Arish in Sinai by bus, then walk 50 kilometers to the border before returning to Cairo on June 19. A second convoy, called 'Soumoud,' meaning 'steadfastness' in Arabic, left Tunisia earlier this week, trying to reach Gaza through Libya and Egypt. However, organizers said they are still waiting for Egypt to grant passage permits. The march comes as Israel intensifies its genocidal war on Gaza amid a blockade that left the already devastated population with food, water, and medication. The blockade has led to dozens of deaths among children and elderly people in recent weeks due to famine. On top of that, Israel has been targeting civilians and deliberately killing civilians who go to aid sites to collect much-needed food and medical supplies. Israeli officials have urged Egypt to stop what they called 'jihadist protesters' from reaching the border, saying that they 'would endanger the safety of (Israeli) soldiers and will not be allowed.' Despite these setbacks, organizers say the movement will remain peaceful and focused on humanitarian goals.
Morocco World
9 hours ago
- Morocco World
Algerian-Tunisian Caravan Displays Amputated Morocco Map, Undermines Gaza Solidarity
Doha – The Sumod Caravan ('Steadfast Caravan') heading toward Gaza has ignited controversy across Morocco after revealing its true colors—displaying maps that deliberately excluded the country's Saharan provinces and exposing a venomous anti-Morocco agenda. What began as a purported solidarity mission for Palestinians has devolved into a politically charged campaign that exploits the Palestinian cause to promote separatist agendas. Images circulating online show the caravan, comprised of activists from Tunisia and Algeria, using truncated maps of Morocco that omit the Sahara region. These activists have brandished mutilated maps of the country, amputating Morocco's Western Sahara region in a calculated affront to the nation's territorial integrity. This comes despite the realpolitik reality of over 120 countries, including the US, France, Spain, and the UK, recognizing Morocco's sovereignty over the territory. The convoy departed from Tunisia on Monday, headed toward eastern Libya near the Egyptian border, amid an atmosphere charged with anti-Morocco rhetoric primarily driven by Algerian participants with well-documented hostility toward the North African country. The deliberate exclusion of Morocco's flag from vehicles in the convoy raises suspicions about some of the caravan's true intentions. These actions have generated widespread condemnation across Moroccan civil society, with many viewing this not as a simple technical error but as a premeditated political message undermining Morocco's territorial unity. A hollow rhetoric The empty grandstanding of 'brotherhood' and 'one nation' the caravan's organizers promote is deeply at odds with their conduct. While claiming to uphold solidarity among peoples, they knowingly undermine Moroccan sovereignty—revealing how such slogans collapse when opportunistic politics take precedence. The cold war relic Polisario, Algeria's puppet separatist group, has long instrumentalized the Palestinian struggle. The infiltration of this humanitarian caravan by Algerian regime agents proves how far they'll go to weaponize Palestinian suffering against Morocco. These infiltrators have transformed what should be a noble cause into a platform for pushing separatist propaganda, betraying both Maghreb unity and Palestinian interests. Algeria even created a Polisario flag deliberately mimicking the Palestinian flag, cynically appropriating Palestinian symbolism for their separatist agenda. This manipulation compromises genuine Arab solidarity, undermining sincere efforts to support Palestinians while exploiting their plight. The Egyptian Foreign Ministry's position speaks volumes. In a Wednesday statement, Cairo stressed that any foreign delegations visiting border areas adjacent to Gaza must obtain 'prior approvals,' effectively creating obstacles for the caravan's passage—a move some observers interpret as rejection of initiatives carrying suspicious messages against Morocco. The contrast between rhetoric and reality extends to the Algerian regime's domestic policies. While vocally championing Palestinian rights on international stages, Algeria routinely prevents its citizens from organizing pro-Palestinian demonstrations in Algerian cities. These movements face security crackdowns, arrests, and intimidation—indicating profound contradictions in Algeria's proclaimed solidarity. Morocco's support for Palestine is anything but recent or symbolic Meanwhile, Morocco's commitment to the Palestinian cause is unimpeachable and anything but recent or symbolic. The country has long demonstrated unwavering support, with near-daily protests erupting across its cities—an outpouring so visible that some Israeli media outlets have labeled Morocco the most hostile country to the Hebrew state. Yet Morocco's stance goes beyond slogans or theatrics; it is grounded in consistent, concrete actions. Historically, Moroccan fighters stood alongside Salah ad-Din al-Ayyubi (Saladin) during the Crusades, especially in the liberation of Al-Quds (Jerusalem) in 1187 at the Battle of Hattin. Records confirm that Amazigh and Arab soldiers from the Maghreb—particularly from what is now Morocco and under the rule of Almohad Sultan Yaqub al-Mansur—formed part of the larger Ayyubid army. In fact, after Jerusalem was liberated, Saladin granted the Moroccan fighters their own neighborhood in the city: Harat al-Maghariba (the Moroccan Quarter), near the Al-Aqsa Mosque. This quarter remained a symbol of Moroccan presence and contribution to the defense of Palestine until it was destroyed by Israel in 1967 following the occupation of East Jerusalem. When it comes to the modern era, its support dates back to the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, when Moroccan volunteers fought in Jerusalem, Jaffa, and Haifa, with more than ten Moroccans killed in these battles. In the 1970s, Israel detained three Moroccans who were part of the Palestinian revolution forces. The country's leadership of the Al-Quds Committee since 1979—established by the Organization of Islamic Cooperation in 1975—has provided tangible assistance to Palestinians. Through both the committee and the Bayt Mal Al-Quds Agency, Morocco supports Palestinians in health, education, housing, youth affairs, and heritage preservation. Morocco's diplomatic stance has only hardened amid Israel's genocide in Gaza, which has killed at least 62,000 people. With repeated and periodic official condemnations, Morocco continues to lead in exposing and rejecting the mass slaughter of Palestinians. In February 2024, Morocco presented arguments before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) regarding the legal consequences of Israeli policies in occupied Palestinian territories. Morocco called for respect for international law and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state alongside Israel, in accordance with relevant international resolutions. The Palestinian-Moroccan relationship has evolved despite historical complications. Though early Palestinian Liberation Organization leaders like George Habash and Nayef Hawatmeh expressed support for the 'Western Sahara struggle and the Polisario Front against Morocco,' relations improved significantly after King Hassan II stepped back from separate peace efforts with Israel in 1986. Even its renewal of relations with Israel was guided by strategic intent—to serve the Palestinian cause more effectively from within. One such example came in April 2024, when Morocco became the first country to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza and Al-Quds directly by land, under the instructions of King Mohammed VI. A flagrant manipulation by opportunistic regimes The Algerian regime's exploitation of the Palestinian cause poisons genuine Maghreb and Arab solidarity, turning a sacred struggle into a political tool and sabotaging sincere efforts to support the Palestinian people. Algeria's hypocrisy extends beyond Palestine—it preaches freedom while supporting the Polisario, which detains populations in Tindouf camps under abhorrent conditions. The compromised caravan comes in the wake of other legitimate solidarity efforts, notably the Madleen which sailed under the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, whose activists were detained while attempting to break Israel's illegal Gaza blockade. Unlike the politically-motivated caravan, the Madleen initiative garnered support from 153 human rights and civil society organizations from 22 countries, including numerous Moroccan organizations that signed a global appeal calling for urgent action from UN Special Rapporteurs and the International Committee of the Red Cross to lift the Gaza blockade. The march itself, which began as a humanitarian initiative to break the siege on Gaza and address the genocide and starvation faced by Palestinians, has been corrupted by Algeria's exploitation. What could have been simply a meaningful display of regional solidarity has instead been drowned in political machinations that were previously foreign to it, especially given the difficult context of the ongoing humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza. The hijacking of Palestinian solidarity movements by separatist agents is an unforgivable betrayal of both causes. True supporters of Palestine must reject such cynical manipulation and recognize those who genuinely stand with Palestinians versus those who exploit their suffering for petty regional vendettas. Read also: Algeria, Tunisia Skip Arab Summit: A Saga of Diplomatic Isolation and Hypocrisy
