The formation of Morocco’s new government is entering a new phase. The day after her appointment by King Mohammed VI, Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri is launching her consultations with political parties this Wednesday, 30 September, in Rabat.
The new head of government has been tasked by the Sovereign with forming the next cabinet, in accordance with Article 47 of the Constitution. After her royal audience, she announced her intention to open talks with the different political groups in order to move quickly towards forming her team.
Consultations with Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri: RNI and Istiqlal first
The first meetings will take place at the national headquarters of the Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM) in Rabat.
Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri is first scheduled to receive a delegation from the National Rally of Independents (RNI) at 11 a.m. A meeting with a delegation from the Istiqlal Party is then planned for 12 p.m. A press briefing is expected to follow each of the two meetings.
These two parties were part of the outgoing governing majority. Their talks with the new head of government therefore mark the first key moments in the process of forming the next executive.
PAM opens discussions with other parties
On Tuesday evening, the PAM political bureau reaffirmed its desire to hold dialogue with all political actors.
The party, which came first in the legislative elections of 23 September, is seeking to move forward towards building a governing majority. However, the exact composition of that majority will only be determined once the consultations have been completed.
PAM holds 97 out of 395 seats in the House of Representatives and therefore does not have an absolute majority on its own. The RNI has 66 seats and Istiqlal 65. The PJD follows with 54 seats.
A new step after the legislative elections
These consultations come in the wake of the 23 September legislative elections. They are intended to allow Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri to meet with all parliamentary parties before putting together her government team.
The new head of government has indicated that she wants to present, as soon as possible, a cabinet that meets the expectations of the King and citizens. She also referred to the high-level guidance she received during her royal audience.
For now, no final line-up of the government has been announced. Any potential portfolios for the various parties, as well as the distribution of responsibilities, will only be decided at the end of the discussions.
The next steps in forming the government
After the first meetings with the RNI and Istiqlal, Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri is expected to continue her talks with the other political parties.
This phase will gradually clarify the shape of the future parliamentary majority. The new government team will then have to be formed before moving on to the next institutional steps.
The first session of the new Parliament is scheduled for 9 October, and the future government will then have to present its programme before the representatives of the Nation.
A new political chapter opens in Morocco
This Wednesday thus marks the concrete start of negotiations around the next government.
For Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri, the immediate priority is to secure the parliamentary support needed to build her majority and finalise the composition of her team.
The first answers will come from her meetings with the parties. The talks with the RNI and Istiqlal are, in this respect, the opening stage of a political sequence that is expected to continue over the coming days.
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