An extraordinary session was scheduled yesterday to debate the cancellation of decisions to sell municipal property at derisory, or even symbolic, prices, namely 600 DH per m2 to five natural persons.

A decision taken during the October 2009 session and exposed by "Libé" on many occasions. But public opinion became aware of this loss well after the acquisition procedure had begun by one of the five beneficiaries for a 900 m2 plot located in the Tilal district.

Political parties, unions, and associations reacted strongly to the signing of the deed of sale by Mohammad El Ferra in favour of the said beneficiary, who did everything to have this contract registered with the land registry services. The political, trade union, and civil society bodies that signed a joint statement had requested the intervention of the financial jurisdiction, as it is a case of loss of public funds and mismanagement affecting the interests of citizens. The governor of the Essaouira province finally sided with the protesters by seizing El Ferra via a letter asking him to cancel the deed of sale no. 2/2012 of 12 March 2012.

"As it was only a single case, the matter had to be dealt with in its entirety by cancelling all the sale decisions that are at the root of this scandal. This affair clearly reflects the irregularities relating to the management of the Essaouira municipality, because the last sale operation carried out in 2002 had valued the square metre at more than 1000 dirhams! On what basis was the price of 600 dirhams set, knowing that the market price values the metre in the zones in question at between 6,000 and 10,000 dirhams?", asks a municipal councillor.

As the former governor had not clearly expressed the rejection of the decisions of this sale, a position interpreted legally as an implicit approval 30 days after the sending of the minutes of the communal council session, the components of the political and civil sphere are evoking the responsibility of the local authority in this affair. Because the beneficiaries, even in the event of the cancellation of the sale decisions, can always resort to the administrative jurisdiction to assert their rights and even demand compensation. A scenario considered inevitable by observers who believe that the damage is already done despite all the measures taken on this subject. Political parties, unions, and associations have gone so far as to demand the dismissal of Mohammed El Ferra who, according to a statement signed jointly by 20 entities, continues to manage the Essaouira municipality despite his five-year prison sentence in the MGPAP case. The signatories urged Abdelilah Benkirane to respect his promises regarding the fight against depravity, while demanding that the Minister of Justice and Liberties clarify the background of this affair, which has been described as unbearable.

A municipal councillor had also sent a letter to the King's General Prosecutor at the Safi Court of Appeal asking him to initiate legal proceedings against all parties involved in this affair.