Eric Ciotti, Rachida Dati Express 'Clear' Position of Les Républicains Party Recognizing Morocco's Sovereignty over its Western Sahara
The president of the party Les Républicains (LR), Eric Ciotti, and Rachida Dati, member of the party and emblematic figure of the French right, expressed the clear position of their formation recognizing the sovereignty of Morocco over its Sahara.
They also stressed, in an interview published Friday by the weekly "Tel Quel", that this major French political party "adheres to the autonomy solution" proposed by the Kingdom.
"My position is very clear (...) I recognize this sovereignty," stressed Ciotti, currently on a visit to Morocco leading a delegation of his party, recalling that he was keen to express very clearly the Moroccan sovereignty over the Sahara, several years ago, especially in the process of appointing the LR candidate in the 2017 presidential election where he competed.
He also recalled that he had expressed this position "very clearly" in a tweet last March.
Referring to the Moroccan autonomy initiative, Ciotti noted that this solution marks the willingness of the Moroccans to find a form of compromise acceptable to all, noting that it is all the more commendable because what has been accomplished in the Sahara region is quite remarkable.
"What the Moroccan authorities have accomplished is a success," he said, noting that the political party he chairs adheres to this autonomy solution proposed by Morocco and which is recognized today by major democracies.
He also stressed that "the gesture expected from France by the Moroccan authorities must happen," saying that the LR party, which is in opposition, can carry this debate and go in this direction.
Asked about the official recognition of Moroccan sovereignty over the Sahara if his political party comes to power in 2027, Ciotti said that "we are not on a commitment or a promise. It is a constant position that we have always had ».
In the same interview, Dati, who is part of the delegation accompanying Ciotti, said that "there is no doubt about the sovereignty and Moroccanness of the Moroccan Sahara," noting that "historically, France has been one of the first countries to recognize this Moroccanness and to support the proposals of His Majesty the King since always ».
"There has never been any doubt in our political group about the support of this position which is obvious," she insisted. "Today, it seems that this evidence is being questioned, but the evidence must be confirmed. It is not questioned, it is not questionable," she said.
The president of the party LR had, Thursday, talks with the chairman of the National Rally of Independents (RNI), Aziz Akhannouch.
In a statement to the press after these talks, Ciotti pleaded for the repair of errors made and lack of consideration shown to Morocco, stressing the "very powerful" ties uniting the Kingdom and France.