Morocco: accused of attempted corruption by José Bové, Prime Minister seizes French justice

Aziz Akhannouch, then Minister of Agriculture, is questioned by the former environmental deputy for facts dating back to the years 2009-2014.

Mo12345lemonde with AFP

The Prime Minister of Morocco Aziz Akhannouch filed a defamation complaint on Tuesday, December 20, in Paris against the former French ecologist deputy José Bové, who affirmed that the kingdom had tried to corrupt him on the sidelines of negotiations ‘A trade agreement in the early 2010s.

Friday on Radio France Inter, Mr. Bové reported that when he was the rapporteur of the Foreign Trade Commission, “in the years 2009-2014”, he had opposed a “harmful” agreement of free -Change targeting the trade of fruits and vegetables between the European Union and Morocco.

“The Minister of Agriculture [of the time, Aziz Akhannouch] not supporting that I could oppose this project, offered to bring me a gift in Montpellier, in a cafe that is discreet, “he said. Was it money? “What do you want elsewhere?” He replied to the journalist. According to his story, he gave an appointment to the cabinet of his lawyer, and “it stopped there”.

“Véreux deputies”

“When there are colossal economic interests that are at stake, these states put pressure and certain deputies, which I would qualify vereous, took advantage of that”, argued Mr. Bové.

According to the complaint of Mr. Akhannouch, consulted by AFP, these are “inadmissible false accusations” which are “only the reflection of an old rancor” by M. Bové.

“Jose Bové obviously and dishonestly tried to take advantage of legal news concerning the European Parliament, to bring out old stories without foundation”, according to M e olivier baratelli.

The accusations of Mr. Bové intervened in the middle of the alleged corruption scandal involving Qatar in the European Parliament and in particular targeting the vice-president of the institution, Eva Kaili.

/Media reports cited above.