An endemic evil.
Morocco holds sad records in the world ranking of corruption.
And despite the state’s campaigns, despite the regular beheading of bigwigs, рunіѕhеԁ, and sent into premature retirement, it seems that the evil remains in place.
From the gendarme who checks you on the side of the road and “exchanges” a 50 dirham note for a forgotten 400 dirham fine, to the big clerk who lets what he should prevent happen and turns a blind eye, corruption seems to be everywhere, like a necessary evil to oil the wheels, to make arrangements, to move forward in spite of everything, in defiance of the law.
Somewhere in the north, corruption is fuelled by drug money.
Yet things are changing, little by little. New generations of young civil servants are refusing to accept money, refusing to endorse the incompetence of companies that used to buy public contracts…
Do not corrupt.
The best way to respect Morocco and Moroccans is not to do what we would not do at home.
Clearly, we can discuss, plead, argue, but bribe?
In the long term, this reinforces the “everything is allowed to foreigners, they think they can buy everything here” vision.
In the short term, this only еnсоurаgеѕ those who practice it.
When we complain about the poor quality of the roads, we forget that part of the public money for their maintenance is diverted… thanks to corruption, and to every problem in Moroccan society, we can find a common cause, corruption.
As a tourist, you don’t have to give baksheesh.
The tourist is a precious person in Morocco. So we avoid bothering him, when we do, it is for serious reasons.
For all minor offences, respectful discussion and argumentation are sufficient, as long as you apply these two rules:
- do not consider that the favour is due to you on рrіnсірlе and be courteous
- don’t take the official in front of you for a fool: you were speeding? Acknowledge it instead of making him believe that his radar doesn’t work.
And add a little humour:
Yes, I drove too fast, but I was looking at the landscape because it is so beautiful, instead of watching my speedometer.
Avoiding traps.
The only subject on which the police will not be lenient is the sexual relations of a foreign man with a Moroccan woman. And you should know that prostitutes are often in cahoots with the police, who let them operate in exchange for a bribe that will allow them to cash in.
Never get into a car alone with a woman. Never.
Let it happen.
If you do decide to use baksheesh, the best advice we can give you is to let someone who knows what they are doing do it for you.
The game has its own rules, half words and unspoken words. Used against the grain, or with an honest official, they can get you into even more trouble.
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