Rabat – July 11, 2013 (MAP)
Implications of the resignation of Istiqlal party’s ministers from the PJD-led government is the major highlight of Moroccan editorialist published this Thursday July 11, 2013.
In an editorial titled “back to square one”, Aujourd’hui le Maroc explains that according to the constitution, the PJD will have to choose between holding early elections, or finding one or several allies to replace the Istiqlal party in the coalition.
While praising the calm and the total respect of institutions and texts in which these events are unfolding, the editorialist notes Morocco cannot afford to waste one or two month, given the economic context.
For Bayane Al Yaoum , the lesson to learn from the Istiqlal party’s decision to withdraw from the government is the Monarchy’s non interference in a conflict between two political parties, which is a message not only to the Istiqlal party leader, but to the entire political class. This message confirms that time and crisis-management means have changed and that politicians should henceforth get used to practice their political job without expecting any interference.
The editorial concludes that it is in the interest of the country that the Istiqlal party, which is a national party with a long history of militancy and a major influence on the political scene, remains strong and active among the other patriotic and democratic political forces.
Akhbar Al Yaoum Al Maghribia, wonders whether the Istiqlal party’s pullout is a natural measure entailed by divergences on public policies or whether it was prompted by political considerations and attempts by other parties to destabilize the government, noting that the big problem is the Moroccan political elite’s inability to adapt to polling results and to a new constitution that is relatively advanced compared to the culture and mindset of political actors.
The editorialist recalls that Chabat, after becoming mayor of Fes, leader of the UGTM trade union and secretary general of the Istiqlal party, has become increasingly ambitious.
For the editorialist of Annahar Al Maghribia, the government has failed after it had made great promises that it could not honor and included Islamic leaders on, the basis of their loyalty instead of competences. The government’s failure also lies in the monopoly exercised by Benkirane over decision-making as well as his hegemonic and authoritarian attitude.
Benkirane also failed because he was the only head of government who dared to increase energy prices, and conduct budget cuts, pending the reforms of the subsidy fund which could affect the country’s stability, the editorialist writes.
