EU top diplomat hails “swift appointment” of Akhannouch as head of Moroccan Gvt

The High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell has welcomed the swift appointment of Aziz Akhannouch as head of the Moroccan Government.

“I welcome the swift appointment of Prime Minister-designate Mr. Akhannouch,” Josep Borrell tweeted on Saturday.

The EU has already worked a lot with Mr. Akhannouch in his previous positions and looks forward to continuing to strengthen its partnership with Morocco,” added the EU Top diplomat.

EU spokesman Peter Stano on his part said “the EU has followed the national, regional and local elections in Morocco with great interest and took note of the high voter turnout.”

“The EU looks forward to working with the new Moroccan government to further strengthen our Euro-Moroccan partnership for shared prosperity in all areas of interest and in line with the 2019 Joint Declaration,” the EU spokesperson said.

He added that the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell has spoken with the Minister of Foreign Affairs Nasser Bourita to discuss topics of mutual interest, including elections.

Morocco held, on Wednesday September 8, general elections (legislative, communal and regional) marked by a voter turnout of 50.35% nationwide.

Aziz Akhannouch’s liberal party, the National rally of Independents (RNI), won 102 seats in the parliament during the legislative elections.

On Thursday, King Mohammed VI designated the RNI Secretary-General as head of the Government and entrusted him with forming a cabinet, in line with the Moroccan 2011 constitution, which stipulates that the King picks the prime minister from the party that secures the highest number of seats in the legislative elections.