Le Monde’s smear campaign against Morocco’s monarch

The French daily Le Monde has once again revealed its entrenched bias with the publication of a scathing piece targeting Morocco’s King Mohammed VI. 

The article, which accuses the monarch of being absent from his country, surrounding himself with “dubious” friends, and failing to address corruption, is less investigative journalism than a political pamphlet built on half-truths and prejudice.

The report even goes as far as to claim that the King is “very ill” and disengaged, an assertion based on speculation rather than credible evidence. In reality, this so-called “investigation” reads more like an opinion piece masquerading as fact.

A Pattern of Distortion

This is not the first time Le Monde has pursued a politically charged agenda at the expense of balanced reporting. The newspaper has built a reputation for selective narratives and ideological slants. Its coverage of the Middle East offers a striking example:

• In Gaza, Le Monde has consistently portrayed Israel as the aggressor while giving a platform to Hamas and other extremist organizations. Since October 7, its reporting has bordered on propaganda.
• In Lebanon, the newspaper criticized Israel’s operations against Hezbollah, even though many Lebanese themselves welcomed the action against the Iran-backed militia.
• During Israel’s 12-day war with Iran, Le Monde condemned the campaign and went further by attacking the United States for supporting its ally.

Such coverage betrays a worldview where democratic allies are vilified and extremist groups are excused or even legitimized.

Declining Credibility

The Morocco piece fits into this broader pattern. Instead of nuanced analysis, readers are offered caricatures and insinuations. Such editorial choices may satisfy an ideological niche, but they erode credibility. 

Unsurprisingly, Le Monde has seen its readership erode steadily over the years, as more readers recognize the gap between its reputation and its practice.

A paper that once claimed to be the “reference” in French journalism now increasingly resembles an activist bulletin. Its latest broadside against Morocco is just another reminder that Le Monde is less interested in informing than in preaching to the converted.