RNI to leave coalition decision to National Council amid internal opposition to PAM

Morocco’s National Rally of Independents, or RNI, is expected to defer a final decision on whether to join a new governing coalition until its upcoming National Council meeting, as internal opposition grows to another alliance with the Authenticity and Modernity Party, or PAM, a source within the RNI’s political bureau told Hespress AR.

The source said a majority of voices within the party had recently expressed opposition to entering another coalition with PAM, citing what they described as practices during the recent election campaign.

“The majority of voices in the party have recently expressed their refusal to enter into an alliance with the Authenticity and Modernity Party,” the source said.

The source added that the party’s next National Council meeting could face difficulties in reaching a final decision on the issue.

The tensions follow the Sept. 23 parliamentary elections, in which PAM emerged as the largest party with 97 seats in the 395-member House of Representatives. RNI finished second with 66 seats, while the Istiqlal Party won 65.

RNI and PAM governed together with Istiqlal during the outgoing 2021-2026 term. Relations between RNI and PAM had already become increasingly strained during the election campaign, with the two governing partners publicly clashing over several issues.

The RNI source said the campaign had created problems that negatively affected relations between the party and its former coalition partners, prompting members of the party to oppose renewing the alliance.

However, the source said some RNI figures hold a different view and believe the tensions could be overcome, leaving the final decision to the party’s National Council.

RNI leadership has so far refrained from taking an immediate position on the formation of the next government. Party leader Mohamed Chouki said Sept. 24 that the party would not immediately take a position on government formation following the election results.