Rabat – Violent clashes emerged yesterday, October 6, at the Popular Movement (MP) party’s headquarters, in Rabat, during the party’s national council. The party’s members held the council to come up with a 24-member list, to form MP’s political office.
The members, however, were divided into two camps that could not agree on one list. The disagreement quickly evolved into a brawl.
Each of the two disputing groups supported a different member list. MP president Mohand Laenser chaired the first list, composed of mainly long-term party members. The second list was led by MP member Mohamed Fadili, and included younger members of the party.
The clashes caused injuries among the members and serious damage to the headquarters equipment. Members of the two groups brawled with each other and threw chairs.
The MP president left the party’s headquarters and called for police intervention. Police officers intervened to put a stop to the confrontation, and ambulances provided medical care to injured members.
The political party has not yet released a statement regarding the incident.
This event happened only a few days before Moroccan Head of Government, Saad Eddine El Othmani, is expected to announce a new government members list.
On July 29, King Mohammed VI called on the head of government to conduct a reshuffle.
“I ask the Head of Government to submit to me, after the summer break, proposals to fill executive posts in the Government and the civil service with high-level national elites chosen on merit and competence,” the King said in his Throne Day speech.
On October 1, the Progress and Socialism Party (PPS) left the Moroccan government. The PPS accused the political parties of the governmental coalition of thinking about ministerial positions more than thinking about reforms.
