New Morocco government make-up likely to remain same

The secretary-general of Morocco’s Popular Movement, Mohanad Laenser, revealed yesterday that the new Moroccan government’s political make-up will likely include the same parties that the former coalition government was composed of.

The former coalition government included the leading Justice and Development Party, the Progress and Socialism Party, the National Rally of Independents and the Popular Movement.

Laenser said after his meeting today with Prime Minister Abdelilah Benkirane that they had discussed the formation of the next government.

Laenser ruled out the entry of the Independence Party in the new government after controversial statements made by its leader, Hamid Chabat, in which he said that neighbouring country Mauritania was Moroccan soil, leading to a diplomatic crisis between the two countries.

Benkirane won another term as Moroccan premier in October, a post he has held since 2011.