Morocco World News
New York, December 29, 2011
In addition to the “disagreement” between the PJD and the Istiqlal party over the portfolio of Equipment and Transportation, the delay in the announcement of the final list of members of the new government is believed to be due also to the reservations expressed by the Palace regarding the appointment of a number of Ministers.
According to the daily newspaper Akhbar Al Youm, the royal cabinet “expressed its reservation over some Ministers” either for “lack of competence” or “suspicions over their background.”
One of the candidates that might be prevented from assuming political office because of this reservation is Mustapha Ramid, one of the PJD’s leaders, who has been proposed as Minister of Justice in the list sent last Saturday by Abdelilah Benkirane to King Mohammed VI.
On Tuesday, the Prime Minister-designate was informed of this reservation that include proposed Ministers from the four parties that form the coalition.
In addition to Mustapha Ramid, the list includes also Abdelkader El Kihel, proposed for the portfolio of Youth and Sport, Abdessamad Kiyouh, proposed to be at the helm of the Ministry of Handicraft and Hamdi Oueld Errachid, proposed for the post of Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, all three from the Istiqlal party. Mohamed Ouzzine, proposed for the portfolio of Energy and Minerals and Driss Merroun, candidate for the Ministry of Modernization of Public Services, both from the Popular Movement, Kajmoula Bent Abi, proposed candidate from the Party of Progress and Socialism for the post of Minister Delegate to the Minister of Foreign Affairs in Charge of Moroccans Living abroad.
According to article 42 of the new constitution, the Prime Minister proposes the list of proposed Minister to the King, who has the power to veto the appointment of any nominees.
The main challenge facing Benkirane is to convince the General Secretariat of his party of accepting the reservations expressed by the Palace over the appointment of Mustapha Ramid.
Reporting from Morocco by Yassmine Zerrouki and Nidal Chebbak
