Morocco’s Largest Opposition Party Elects New Sec-Gen

Morocco’s Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM), the largest opposition group in the parliament, voted for Abdellatif Ouahbi as new Secretary General succeeding to Abdelhakim Benchamach, Speaker of the House of Advisors.

 

Ouahbi, a prominent lawyer, was elected unanimousy by members of the party’s national council at the end of its fourth congress held in El Jadida this weekend.

 

The congress was marred by clashes between supporters of different candidates in a heated electoral race.

However, Abdellatif Ouahbi was the favorite of this election after another outstanding member of the party and former Minister of Health, Mohamed Cheikh Biadillah, announced early Sunday morning, his withdrawal from the race.

So, Ouahbi was elected to lead the party for the next five years.

 

Former mayor of Marrakech, Fatima Zahra El Mansouri was re-elected head of the national council for a five-year term.

 

Outgoing Benchamach who withdrew from elections had said at the opening of the congress that the party was founded to counter the wave of political Islam. However, his successor has not ruled out the possibility of an alliance with the PJD Islamists in the future.