Rabat – Morocco’s Justice Minister and former Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM) leader Abdellatif Ouahbi has denied reports that he has been appointed Morocco’s next head of government following the party’s victory in the September 23 legislative elections.
The reports claimed that Ouahbi had received the appointment. Several other media outlets and social media accounts subsequently circulated the claim.
Ouahbi rejected the reports. He said he was taking a nap when he learned that the news had begun to circulate and dismissed the claim as “nonsense.”
The reports have emerged as political discussions continue over who will lead the next government after PAM secured the largest number of seats in the House of Representatives in this year’s legislative elections.
Several PAM figures have been mentioned in separate reports as possible candidates for the post, including Fatima-Zahra El Mansouri, coordinator of the party’s collective leadership; Fouzi Lekjaa, a prominent figure who joined PAM during the electoral campaign; and Mehdi Bensaid, a member of the party’s leadership and outgoing Minister of Youth, Culture and Communication.
El Mansouri said after the election that she would accept the position if King Mohammed VI appointed her, while stressing that the decision rests with the King.
Morocco held its legislative elections on September 23, with PAM emerging as the largest political force with 97 seats in the 395-member House of Representatives. The National Rally of Independents (RNI) followed with 66 seats, while the Istiqlal Party secured 65. The Justice and Development Party (PJD) won 54 seats, followed by the Popular Movement (MP) with 29 seats.
Under Article 47 of Morocco’s Constitution, the King appoints the head of government from the political party that wins the largest number of seats in the House of Representatives.
The Royal Cabinet has not announced the appointment of the next head of government.
The Royal Cabinet is expected to announce the next head of government in the coming days, following the completion of the electoral process and the formation of the new parliamentary majority. Until then, no official announcement has confirmed the identity of the person who will lead the next government.
