In a strange incident, three European parliamentarians from the remnants of the populist left, including a member of the Spanish party Podemos, decided to suddenly land at Hassan I Airport in Laayoune, southern Morocco, without prior authorization, as if they were on a personal exploration tour.
This move, which seemed like an attempt to provoke Morocco, was supported by a state backing the Polisario, raising questions about its motivations and political dimensions.
The Event: An Unprecedented Unauthorized Landing
The three parliamentarians decided to charter a private plane and land at Hassan I Airport in Laayoune without prior coordination with Moroccan authorities.
This provocative move reflects an attempt to create media buzz around the issue of the Moroccan Sahara, especially given their open support for the Polisario Front. However, Morocco handled the situation with civility, preventing them from leaving the plane and sending them back to their point of departure without escalation.
Analysis of Political Dimensions
International Context: This incident comes at a time when the Moroccan Sahara issue is gaining increasing international support for Morocco’s position, especially after the U.S. recognition of Morocco’s sovereignty over the Sahara and the backing of many European countries. The three parliamentarians’ attempt to create media buzz seems like a desperate reaction from parties supporting the Polisario.
The Populist Left: These parliamentarians represent the remnants of the populist left in Europe, which relies on emotional and populist rhetoric to achieve political gains. Their use of issues like self-determination in the Moroccan Sahara or the Palestinian cause aims to attract popular support without any real commitment to practical solutions.
Morocco: An Elegant Response: Morocco handled the incident with civility, not allowing them to leave the plane and not arresting them, even though Moroccan law permitted it. This response reflects Morocco’s confidence in its international position and its ability to manage crises professionally.
Questions Seeking Answers
What are the real objectives behind this failed mission? Was it an attempt to provoke Morocco or just a media stunt?
Why didn’t these parliamentarians dare to repeat the same move in Catalonia or Gaza, despite their declared support for self-determination in those regions?
What message did Morocco want to send by handling the incident professionally?
Will this incident affect relations between Morocco and the European Union, especially with parliamentarians from European countries present?
General Context: Morocco and the Sahara Issue
This incident occurs in the context of Morocco’s successful diplomatic efforts to affirm its sovereignty over the Sahara, with the country gaining broad international support. The three parliamentarians’ attempt to create media buzz seems like a desperate effort to undermine these efforts, especially given the Polisario’s failure to secure new international recognitions.
Critique: The Populism of the European Left
This incident reveals the contradictions of the European populist left, which uses issues like self-determination for political purposes without any real commitment to practical solutions. These parliamentarians, who support self-determination in the Moroccan Sahara, did not dare to do the same in Catalonia or Gaza, reflecting a double standard.
Conclusion: A Failed Mission and a Clear Message
The three parliamentarians returned disappointed, not only because of their mission’s failure but also because of the unpaid bill for their provocative trip.
Morocco, on the other hand, sent a clear message: handling such attempts must be done with civility and professionalism, reflecting Morocco’s confidence in its position and its ability to protect its sovereignty. This incident reminds us that populism and emotional rhetoric cannot replace facts on the ground.
