Laenser: Future of Country Takes Precedence Over Coalition Government

Rabat – The Popular Movement (MP) considers it more important to prioritize the interest of the future of the country before joining the majority government, according Mohand Laenser, the party’s Secretary-General.

In an interview granted to Assabah, Laenser said that even if the government coalition did not win the alliance of a majority of representatives, it would not constitute a valid reason for a new round of elections.

The political leader supports the return of the previous ruling alliance – the MP, the National Rally of Independents (RNI), the Party of Progress and Socialism (PPS), and the Justice and Development Party (PJD) – over the current mix, which includes the Istiqlal Party, the Socialist Union of Populist Forces and the PPS.

PJD-affiliated Head of Government Abdelilah Benkirane has been tasked with forming the national government for the next five years after winning the October 7^th elections. More than six weeks later, the status of Rabat’s ministries remains under a shroud of mystery.

Benkirane has begun a second round of negotiations with parties that have demonstrated interest in being part of the governing coalition. The PJD has not extended an invitation to the MP for the upcoming round, according to previous reporting.

Just a week after the election, the MP had agreed to be a part of Benkirane’s alliance, however, since then, negotiations regarding the role of Laenser’s political group in the new regime have jeopardized the future of the partnership.

The October 7^th elections saw the demise of the power of small and medium-sized parties, such as the MP, in the Moroccan parliament as the Islamist PJD and the opposition Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM) gained 18 and 55 seats each, respectively.

The MP won 27 seats – five less than their wins in the 2011 elections, which occurred after the approval of the post-Arab spring constitution via referendum.