The Socialist Union of Popular Forces (USFP), which gained 34 of the 395-seat parliament in the elections held Sept.8 in Morocco, has decided to join the parliamentary opposition. The decision was announced Tuesday by the party’s political bureau without giving explanations as the USFP first secretary, Driss Lachgar, has voiced readiness of his political formation […]
Tag: USFP
Final Curtain Falls on Composition of Moroccan Government Saga
The list of ministers of the new cabinet led by the PJD’s Saad Eddine EL Othmani has been greenlighted by King Mohammed VI at the Royal Place in Rabat on Wednesday, ending a post-electoral deadlock that left Morocco without a government for six months. EL Othmani was appointed head of Government on March 17, in […]
New Government to Include 30 Ministers
After unveiling the parties participating in the new government, a source close to the Head of Government designate Saad Eddine El Othmani told local media that the new cabinet would include 30 ministers. El Othmani managed to end the deadlock left by his predecessor Abdelilah Benkirane whose negotiations to form a new government stalled in […]
Light at End of Tunnel after Months-long Deadlock in Forming Coalition Government
Saad Eddine El Othmani, Head of the Government designate and president of the National Council of the Islamist PJD party announced the composition of the new government coalition after an impasse that left Morocco without a cabinet for more than five months. The announcement was made by El Othmani at a press conference Saturday. The […]
Parliament Clears the Way for Morocco’s Return to AU
The Moroccan House of representatives unanimously adopted the constitutive act of the African Union clearing the way for the Kingdom’s return to the African Union. The adoption of the constitutive act by the Moroccan parliament paves the institutional way for Morocco’s return to the pan-African organization in line with the King’s vision in favor of […]
Election of Parliament Speaker Complicates Benkirane’s Bid to Form Coalition
Leftist MP Habib El Malki of the USFP party was elected Monday Speaker of the Lower House of Parliament amid fears that such a decision may further complicate the stalling formation of a coalition government by Abdelilah Benkirane, Secretary General of the Islamist PJD party. Benkirane was appointed Head of Government by King Mohammed VI […]
Moroccan Government Formation, Back to Square One
Stalemate is the word that describes the best the sterile negotiations over government formation in Morocco. Three months after the Islamist Justice and Development Party (PJD) won Morocco’s legislative elections with a narrow margin against its arch rival liberal Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM), Morocco remains without a government. Abdelilah Benkirane, Secretary General of the […]
Morocco: Is a Political Crisis Looming as PJD Fails to Form Government?
Almost three months after the legislative elections of October 7, Morocco remains without a government. Secretary General of the Party for Justice and development and outgoing Head of Government, Abdelilah Benkirane, was designated by King Mohammed VI to form a cabinet, as stipulated by the 2011 Constitution. Benkirane has led consultations with several political parties […]
Proportion of Women in Moroccan Parliament Rises to 21%
Following the October 7 general elections, women’s percentage at the House of Representatives slightly rose to account for 21% of seats compared to 17% in the 2011 elections. The number of seats occupied by women in the Moroccan parliament stands at 81 out the 395 total seats, of whom 71 made it to the House […]
Moderate Islamist Party Faces ‘Mission Impossible’ to Form Government Coalition
Morocco’s parliamentary elections unfolded with the incumbent moderate Islamist party, Justice and Development (PJD) coming first followed by liberal Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM) in a tight electoral race that makes government coalition formation an uphill battle for the PJD. A coalition between the PJD with 125 seats followed by the PAM with 102 seats […]









