The Socialist Union of Popular Forces (USFP) commemorated, Tuesday, May 9, 2023 at the National Library of Rabat, the 40th day of mourning after the death of the former speaker of the House of Representatives and leader of the party, Abdelwahed Radi.
This Tuesday marks the 40th day of the disappearance of the former first secretary of the USFP and former Minister of Justice, the man who held several positions of responsibility making him a key figure in the political landscape and activism in Morocco, Abdelwahed Radi.
On this occasion, many eminent personalities from the political and intellectual world, including Driss Lachgar, First Secretary of the USFP, Rachid Talbi Alami, President of the House of Representatives, Amina Bouayach, President of the CNDH and ambassadors from several countries, among others, gathered today at the invitation of the UNFP to pay tribute to this great politician and recall his greatest moments on the national and international political scene.
Mehdi Mezouari, member of the political bureau of the USFP, indicated, in a statement to MoroccoLatestNews, that ” today we celebrated a tribute, we, the USFP party and the family of the late Abdelwahed Radi on the occasion of the 40th day of his disappearance. It is a tribute that takes on a family character”.
And to add: It was an opportunity to present testimonies, in particular from the First Secretary of the party, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, his daughter Lamia Radi, but also to present testimonies of condolence from international personalities who were friends of the deceased and worked with him, including Josep Borrell, Miguel Angel Moratinos and Rohi Fettouh“.
” I think it was a human moment, a moment of conviviality and a moment of projection into the future because Abdelwahed Radi is not a man who died but values that will be projected into the future. It is a political practice, it is a morality, it is a great national lesson. Abdelwahed Radi was not a simple man, he is not passing through, I think the day of his death is the day of a birth for him“, says Mezouari.
Indeed, among the expressions of condolence is that of the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Vice-President of the European Commission, Josep Borrell, who did not fail to recall that ” Abdelwahed Radi was, as you know, one of the founders of the UNFP in 1956 and then of the USFP in 1975. A member of parliament since 1963, he chaired the House of Representatives for three terms. Beyond his parliamentary action, he also served Morocco as Minister of Cooperation and Justice“.
For the Senior Official, Abdelwahed Radi is a ” A privileged witness to the history of modern Morocco, he experienced closely all the stages that marked the life of the country under the successive reigns of Mohammed V, Hassan II and Mohammed VI. His journey commands admiration“.
Borrell makes it known that ” Ihe qualities of the late Abdelwahed Radi are multiple. To evoke them all in such a short time is a challenge. He was quite simply an exceptional man. May he rest in peace and may his political legacy live on.“.
As for Miguel Angel Moratinos, former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Spain, High Representative of the United Nations for the Alliance of Civilizations, he underlines that ” Abdelwahed Radi was a great state agent. A political personality who marked the history of his country and who contributed to strengthening relations between Spain and Morocco“.
He pursues: ” Relations between our two countries have been strengthened, and above all the intervention and participation of Abdelwahed has been very useful in defusing the crises that are normal between neighboring countries. He officially visited Spain, and always he insisted on the need to strengthen the ties between the two socialist parties, Moroccan and Spanish“.
” In any case, he clearly understood the strategic importance for establishing a solid Moroccan-Spanish friendship, in the light of our history and geography. Today we must thank him for all his efforts and formally express our deep gratitude for his permanent dedication to peace and dialogue. Peace be with him“, concludes Moratinos.