Morocco World News
Rabat, January 3, 2012
King Mohammed just appointed the new government after five weeks of negotiations between the different components of the coalition and much speculation over the names of ministers.
The government unveiled today by King Mohammed VI includes new names, such as Abdellatif Maazouz, Minister Delegate to the Minister of Foreign Affairs in Charge of Moroccans Living abroad, Youssef Amrani Minister Delegate to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mohamed Amine Sbihi, Minister of Culture and and Mohammed El Guerrou, Minister of Modernization of Public Sectors and Charki Draiss, Minister Delegate to the Minister of the Interior.
Other names that were included in the initial list have been either ruled out or entrusted with other Ministries.
This is the case of Kajmoula Bent Abi (PPS), who was proposed to be Minister Delegate to the Minister of Foreign Affairs in Charge of Moroccans Living abroad, Abdelkader El Kihel (IP), proposed for the portfolio of Youth and Sport, El Ghali Kenza (IP), proposed to be appointed Minister of Education, Hamdi Oueld Errachid (IP) unfortunate candidate for the post of Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and Driss Merroune (PM), candidate for the portfolio of Public service.
In addition to the Prime Minister, the newly appointed government includes 30 Ministers, among which only one female Minister.
The party of Justice and Development, which won the last legislative elections held on November 25, 2011, will be at the helm of 11 Ministries.
The list of Ministers is as follows:
– Abdelilah Benkirane: Head of the Government.
– Abdellah Baha: State Minister.
– Mohand Laenser : Minister of the Interior .
– Saad-Eddine El Othmani: Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation.
– Mustafa Ramid: Minister of Justice and Liberties.
– Ahmed Toufiq: Minister of Habous and Islamic Affairs.
– Driss Dahak: Secretary-General of the Govenment.
– Nizar Baraka : Minister of Economics and Finance.
– Nabil Benabdellah: Minister of Housing, Town Planning and Urban Policy.
– Aziz Akhannouch: Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries.
– Mohamed El Ouafa: Minister of National Education.
– Lahcen Daoudi: Minister of Higher Education, Scientific Research and Executive Training
– Mohamed Ouzzine: Minister of Youth and Sports.
– Aziz Rabbah: Minister of Equipment and Transport.
– El Hossein El Ouardi: Minister of Health.
– Mustapha El Khalfi: Minister of Communications, spokesman for the Government.
– Fouad Douiri: Minister of Energy, Mines, Water and the Environment.
– Abdelouahed Souhail: Minister of Labour and Vocational Training.
– Abdelkader Aâmara: Minister of Industry, Trade and New Technologies.
– Lahcen Haddad: Minister of Tourism.
– Bassima Hakkaoui : Minister of Solidarity, Women, Family and Social Development.
– Mohamed Amine Sbihi : Minister of Culture.
– Abdessamad Qaiouh : Minister of Handicrafts.
– Lahbib Choubani : Minister in charge of Relations with Parliament and Civil Society.
– Abdellatif Loudiyi: Minister Delegate to the Head of the Government in charge of the Administration of National Defense.
– Abdellatif Maazouz: Minister Delegate to the Head of the Government in Charge of the Moroccans Living Abroad.
– Charki Draiss: Minister Delegate to the Interior Minister.
– Youssef Amrani: Minister Delegate to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation.
– Mohamed Najib Boulif: Minister Delegate to the Head of the Government in charge of General Affairs and Governance.
– Abdelâdim El Guerrouj: Minister Delegate to the Head of the Government in Charge of Civil Service and the Administration Modernization.
– Idriss Azami Al Idrissi: Minister Delegate to the Minister of Economics and Finance in Charge of the Budget.
This is the first time in Morocco’s history after independence 1956 that a moderate Islamist party has been entrusted with the task of leading the government. An opinion poll released last month, carried by AFP, found that more than 80 percent of Moroccans were confident Benkirane could lead the country’s new government.
