Agadir – Morocco’s elected Head of Government Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri said Saturday that formal talks to form the next government will begin this week after the Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM) National Council authorized her to lead the negotiations.
The decision came during an extraordinary session of the PAM National Council at the Skhirat Convention Center, following the party’s victory in the September 23 legislative elections.
Speaking to Moroccan media after the meeting, El Mansouri described the session as a key moment in determining the party’s approach to government formation.
“Today, there was an extraordinary session of the National Council of the Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM), in accordance with our internal regulations. This was the decisive moment regarding the government coalition talks,” she said on Saturday.
El Mansouri said the meeting began with celebrations over the election results and her appointment by King Mohammed VI to form the next government.
She said the discussions then turned into an intense debate over the party’s possible alliances.
“There was a heated debate; it was not easy. There were differing opinions. Some spoke about red lines, while others advocated for an open dialogue,” she said.
The PAM National Council ultimately voted unanimously to authorize El Mansouri, alongside a committee appointed by the party’s Political Bureau, to lead the negotiations.
“The National Council voted to authorize its president, or the party’s coordinator, Fatima Zahra El Mansouri, to negotiate, together with the committee appointed by the Political Bureau,” she said.
El Mansouri said the party had already completed its initial consultations and would now move toward formal negotiations.
“At that point, we will begin. We have completed the initial consultations, and further consultations will begin as of this week,” she said.
The development comes as PAM faces differing views over the composition of the next governing coalition. Some party members have called for changes to the previous coalition formula, including opposition to another alliance with the National Rally of Independents (RNI).
Istiqlal Party Secretary-General Nizar Baraka also told members of his party’s National Council on Saturday that he had received information indicating that PAM had decided against renewing a majority with the RNI.
The next round of talks will determine which parties could join the government led by El Mansouri, following PAM’s victory in the September 23 legislative elections.
