Morocco political deadlock deepens as coalition talks end

Morocco’s prime minister has broken off talks to form a new government with two main coalition partners three months after the country’s elections, deepening the worst political deadlock since the 2011 Arab Spring.

The failure to agree delays the appointment of a parliament chief and pushes back debate of Morocco’s economic reform programme to overhaul subsidies and public spending. It was not immediately clear how the politicians would proceed.

Premier Abdelilah Benkirane, leader of the Justice and Development Party (PJD), was named by King Mohammed as prime minister for a second term after his party won the most seats in last October’s election.

In Morocco, the election law ensures that no party can win an outright majority in the 395-seat parliament, making coalition governments a necessity in a system where the king still holds ultimate power.

Benkirane’s efforts have met with resistance from other parties who critics say are too close to the palace.

The premier has been in talks with Aziz Akhannouch, leader of the centre-right National Rally of Independence (RNI) party and a friend of the king. Critics see him as the major figure manoeuvring on behalf of the royal palace.

“Talks have ended with him and also with Mohaend Laenser, the leader of the Popular Movement,” Benkirane said in a statement last night.

RNI has been trying to impose a bloc of four minor parties inside the ruling coalition, which would weaken the Islamists. It also rules out any alliance with the conservative Istiqlal party, which has shown willingness to work with Benkirane.

That leaves the PJD with only its junior ally, the Socialism and Progress Party (PPS). Both those parties have accused the palace of unfairly supporting the Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM), which came in second in the election.

The palace says the king maintains the equal distance from all parties and dismisses claims of royal interference.