Rabat – Deputy Secretary-General of the Justice and Development Party (PJD), Slimane El Omrani, said that his party regretted the decision of the Party of Progress and Socialism (PPS) to withdraw from the Moroccan government.
In a statement published on the night of October 1, the PPS declared its decision to leave the coalition.
The statement of the PPS cited several reasons that motivated the party to withdraw, including the “lack of cohesion and solidarity” among the parties.
El Omrani said on his Facebook, that the PJD’s members have “esteem for the PPS and we are proud of the relationship that unites us.”
He added that the collaboration between the two parties served for the interest of the nation.
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“The party, its Secretary-General and Head of Government [Saad Eddine El Othmani] has always expressed its will to maintain the PPS within the current government majority,” he said.
Denying rumors on the possible rift between the parties, El Omrani cited his party’s determination to continue to work with the PPS.
The withdrawing party said in its stateùent on October 1 that the decision will be ratified on Friday, October 4 at a special session of its central committee.
The decision comes a few weeks after King Mohammed VI met with Head of Government Saad Eddine El Othmani on September 21 ahead of the expected government reshuffle under royal instruction.
On July 29, the King on his Throne Day speech called on the government to consider a reshuffle to inject “new blood” into the cabinet.
“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.
It remains to be seen when El Othmani will present his shortlist for the reshuffle.
