Rabat – Morocco’s Head of Government, Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri, continues consultations with political parties as she is tasked with forming a cabinet coalition following the Authenticity and Modernity Party’s (PAM) win in the legislative elections.
El Mansouri met with several leaders from different political parties, including Mohamed Nabil Benabdallah, Secretary General of the Party of Progress and Socialism (PPS).
Speaking to the media following his meeting with El Mansouri, Benabdallah said his party has not yet made a decision on its political position. This means the party is yet to confirm whether it wants to be part of the government coalition or stay in the opposition.
PPS won 19 seats in the legislative elections that took place on September 23 across Morocco.
PAM took 97 seats, followed by the National Rally of Independents (RNI) with 66 seats, and Al Istiqlal Party with 65 seats.
The Justice and Development Party (PJD) also won 54 seats, ahead of the Popular Movement with 29 seats and the Socialist Union of Popular Forces (USFP) with 26.
Benabdallah said that a clear and ongoing debate has been taking place within his party since the elections.
PPS, however, has not determined its final position and how to approach this new phase.
For PPS, the issue concerns the positions of other national political parties, with the party stating that it will continue its internal discussions before adopting an appropriate position.
Benabdallah, however, emphasized the importance of El Mansouri’s appointment as Head of Government, representing a strong symbolic significance. He referred to the fact that El Mansouri is Morocco’s first-ever female head of government.
Meanwhile, El Mansouri will continue her dialogue with all other political parties as she is tasked with forming a government coalition, under which high-level officials and secretaries will be appointed in the next phase.
While El Mansouri’s appointment has been celebrated across the country, it did not come as a surprise for many, especially within the few days before and following the elections.
Her appointment has prompted mixed reactions. While some view it as a significant move for women’s empowerment, others have raised questions over whether she is the right choice for the position, given her affiliation with PAM, a party that has already been in the previous government and was subject to scrutiny and criticism for governance.
Nabila Mounib, a member of the Political Bureau of the Unified Socialist Party (PSU), which is part of the Left Alliance, questioned PAM’s record in government management.
Mounib also questioned the party’s election victory, saying she had “no idea how PAM won the elections” and citing alleged irregularities during the electoral process.
