Morocco's PJD won an historic election in the African country Rabat – Rachid Bougha The first media leaks revealing potential candidates for the winning Justice & Development Party's (PJD) various cabinet posts has been revealed, with General Secretary Abdelilah Benkirane appointed by King Mohammed VI form the new government. Sources said the initial proposals for the structure are being negotiated with Benkirane.
A preliminary list revealed that Abdul Aziz Rabbah was nominated for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, after turning down the Ministry of Transportation post which was instead handed to Abdul Karim Ghallab. Former minister of the Independence Party, Saad Eddin Othmani was handed the for Ministry of Health and Mohammed Bolife the Ministry of Agriculture. Lahoucin Daoudi received the important Ministry of Economy and Finance, Mostafa Khelfi the Ministry of Communication, and Basima Haqawi the Ministry of Family and Solidarity.
In the meantime, the National Rally of Independents chose to remain in the opposition, where it said in a statement it issued after a meeting that “out of respect to the methodology of democracy, and the interpretation of the election results, which took place in integrity and transparency, the National Rally of Independents chose – with awareness and responsibility, and in defense of its modernistic democratic plan – to line up in opposition, which was given a new privileged position by the new constitution, in order for our country to establish effective and accountable democracy”.
Similarly, the Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM) chose to remain in the opposition, declaring its determination and attachment to “the Alliance for Democracy, on a ground basis and agenda.” It also said in a statement issued from the national bureau of the party that the party confirmed its “place in opposition, carrying out its complete constitutional and political role, serving national and civil issues and building democracy.”
PAM announced its intention to continue working with its allies “to strengthen the construction of this framework, support its position among the people, and to contribute to improving its performance within institutions and before the public, which would promote the modernistic democratic implementation of the constitution, and interpret the principles and approaches it announced”.
Meanwhile, both of the Popular Movement and the Constitutional Union were reported to be looking into how they could declare their disengagement from the Eight-Party Alliance, awaiting what the newly appointed Prime Minister would reach in his negotiations with the Party of Progress and Socialism, bearing in mind that there has never been a truce in their relationship.
In addition, the mayor of Fez threatened the general secretary of the General Union of Workers in Morocco and member of the Executive Committee of the Independence Party, Hamid Chabat, in the first rally he held on Sunday in a cultural centre, to take to the streets in the memory of the painful December 14 events which Fez witnessed in 1990.
This was after the declaration of the final results of the November 25 elections where the PJD and the Socialist Union made progress, while the Independence witnessed a decline causing “shock” and “disbelief” to some of its followers.
A source close to Chabat said that he is threatened against going out to the streets every month, until security returns to the city.