Casablanca – The Administrative Commission of the Socialist Union of Popular Forces (USFP) has agreed in principle in a meeting held on Saturday to join Abdelilah Benkirane’s coalition government.
The USFP meeting was held over a month after King Mohammed VI entrusted Abdelilah Benkirane, Secretary General of the Justice and Development Party (PJD), to form a government coalition.
Benkirane has talked with numerous other party leaders, but only two parties have confirmed their participation in Benkirane’s government, namely the Party of Progress and Socialism (PPS) and the Istiqlal Party (IP). This is not enough to form a majority.
USFP’s Administrative Commission held the meeting to evaluate the performance of the party in the previous elections, according to Arabic-language news source, Hespress.
USFP’s Administrative Commission authorized the party to begin deliberations with Benkirane, meaning that it agreed in principal to join the PJD, the Party of Progress and Socialism (PPS), and Independent Party (PI)to form a coalition government.
USFP’s Secretary General, Idriss Lachgar, stated during the meeting that he “will not be nominated to any ministry in the next government, so as not to influence the talks with the head of government.”
The USFP stated that all it focuses on is “the new government’s fundamental platform, important pillars, and reorganization priorities. This envisages a reduction in the number of its members and the effectiveness and efficiency of its performance.”
Edited by Patrick Shaffer
