Morocco’s political deadlock deepens as premier ends coalition talks

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 program to overhaul subsidies and public spending. It was not immediately clear how the politicians would proceed.
Premier Abdelilah Benkirane, leader of the hard-liner 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.
Benkirane’s efforts have met with resistance from other parties who critics say are too close to the palace. Royalist supporters have been reluctant to share power with hard-liners.
The premier has been in talks with Aziz Akhannouch, leader of the center-right National Rally of Independence or RNI party. Critics see him as the major figure maneuvering 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 on Sunday night.
RNI has been trying to impose a bloc of four minor parties inside the ruling coalition, which would weaken the hard-liners. 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.
It was unclear what King Mohammed would do next and whether Benkirane’s decision is final.
The Oct. 7 election strained Morocco’s delicate political balance by exacerbating splits between the palace and the PJD, with whom the royal establishment has been reluctant to share power.
After five years in government, the PJD won 125 seats in October’s election, the Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM) party took 102, while the conservative Istiqlal party won 46 seats.

Source: Arab News