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Rabat – Morocco’s head of government, Abdelilah Benkirane, said he is “optimistic” that conditions are gathered for a coherent and homogeneous governmental action, after the appointment of a new cabinet last Thursday.
“Conditions to work in an atmosphere of total cohesion within the government exist”, he said at a meeting with the press, adding “I am optimistic as to the government’s ability to work in a homogeneous manner”.
In the interview broadcast on Sunday by Moroccan TV channels “2M” and “Al Oula”, Benkirane recalled steps covered for the birth of the new government line-up, since the decision made by the Istiqlal party to withdraw its ministers from the government, citing negotiations with the former opposition party “National Rally of Independents” (RNI).
He conceded that in this process preservation of balances within the majority impacted the government constitution, stressing that patriotic figures, who do not belong to any political party, but who are renowned for their competence, have entered the reshuffled cabinet, in addition to an increased number of women.
The head of government further brushed aside theses of the “failure” of the first government team, explaining that the crisis was a crisis of the majority, not of the government whose action was coherent.
Of accomplishments of the former cabinet, Benkirane cited reforming the subsidy fund which was meant to control budget balances and support needy social categories, extending financial help to divorced women and raising retirement pensions and students scholarships
To a question on social dialog, the head of government commended the end of strikes in local councils and in justice and the conclusion of collective conventions, worth 13.2 billion DH, with trade unions, calling the unions to help the government maintain social peace.
The present government will carry on the implementation of reforms, such as the legislative plan, the retirement pension funds, and the subsidy funds, in addition to measures for employment and promotion of the job market, he pledged.
On the issue of a group of young unemployed graduates who had signed with the former government an employment agreement, Benkirane noted that the government is determined to develop a training program that will help them enter the job market in the private sector and participate in recruitment exams in the public sector.
This is the first interview of the head of government since last Thursday’s partial reshuffle of the government which now includes a new party (RNI), independent ministers and seven women.
