In recent days, Moroccans have been engrossed on social media by a photo published by an Australian newspaper claiming to show the Minister of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development, Leila Benali, alongside Andrew Forrest, the CEO of Fortescue, a leader in green energy, minerals, and technology, in a “private moment.” In her first comment on the photo, which was circulated by both Australian and local media, Benali stated, in a brief statement to the press during a weekly parliamentary session on Monday, that this is “a continuous targeting of her since last year.” She also refused to go into details about the article published by the newspaper.
The Australian claims that the photo dates back over a week when Benali was on a business visit to Paris, where the picture was reportedly taken in the fourth district. The alleged photo was accompanied by an article suggesting a romantic relationship between the two officials and hinting at a conflict of interest, as Benali had received Forrest among a delegation from his group during a February visit to Rabat as part of bilateral talks.
Local media sources revealed that Benali “held an emergency meeting with her office members and advisors to discuss the content of the article published by the Australian newspaper and how to respond to the information provided, given its seriousness, as it affects the personal reputation of the Moroccan minister and hints at a conflict of interest and the misuse of her influence in favor of the Australian businessman, whom 'The Australian' suggests has a romantic relationship with Benali.” The minister also categorically denied the authenticity of the published photo to her colleagues in the "Authenticity and Modernity" party.
Speculations have arisen as the photo widely circulated on social media in Morocco, sparking various conjectures about “potential conflicts of interest,” with some calling for an investigation. Others have compared the “style” of the minister, particularly her shoes, with that of the woman in the photo in an attempt to confirm the accuracy of the news.
