Morocco’s coalition talks: Who is in, who is out and who is still deciding

Morocco’s new government formation talks entered a second phase Friday after the Authenticity and Modernity Party, led by Head of Government-designate Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri, completed its first round of consultations with political parties.

The PAM delegation held meetings over two days with parties represented in the newly elected House of Representatives, with several parties signaling their positions while others have yet to make a final decision.

The talks began Wednesday with meetings with the National Rally of Independents, Istiqlal, the Popular Movement, the Socialist Union of Popular Forces and the Progress and Socialism Party.

On Thursday, the PAM delegation, which included Political Bureau members Abdellatif Ouahbi and Fouzi Lekjaa and PAM Academy President Ahmed Akhchichine, met with the Constitutional Union and the Democratic and Social Movement.

The Justice and Development Party was also expected to meet the PAM committee, but Secretary-General Abdelilah Benkirane declined to go to PAM headquarters and instead asked El Mansouri to meet him at the PJD headquarters.

The Left Alliance, comprising the Federation of the Democratic Left and the Unified Socialist Party, was also expected to meet the PAM delegation Friday. The meeting was not held after the parties sought to hold the talks outside PAM headquarters.

Istiqlal leans in

Istiqlal’s leadership is leaning toward joining the next government, according to a senior party official who spoke to Hespress AR.

The party’s National Council is expected to meet this weekend to assess the Sept. 23 election results and discuss government participation. The final decision will rest with the council. Istiqlal won 66 seats, placing third in the election.

The official said participation would reflect voters’ choice and allow the party to continue projects it helped advance during the previous term.

The party is not setting conditions or vetoes on potential coalition partners, and has not yet discussed ministerial portfolios. The official said a return of the previous three-party coalition between PAM, RNI and Istiqlal remains possible, with PAM taking the lead.

Istiqlal’s position comes as RNI has also signaled its readiness to join the next government, citing continued reforms and the challenges ahead.

PJD and Left Alliance choose opposition

The clearest positions so far have come from the PJD and the Left Alliance, both of which have said they intend to remain in opposition.

The Left Alliance said Thursday that the FGD and PSU had agreed to maintain their position of not joining the incoming government.

The alliance described opposition as a political choice based on what the two parties said was their commitment to citizens and the country’s interests.

The PJD has also confirmed that it will remain in opposition. Benkirane previously told Hespress that a meeting with El Mansouri would not change the party’s decision, after the PJD’s National Council unanimously backed joining the opposition.

The party won 54 seats in the Sept. 23 elections, finishing fourth, and has said it intends to form part of what it describes as a responsible national opposition.

PPS still weighing its options

The Progress and Socialism Party has not yet decided whether to participate in the next government.

Following its meeting with the PAM delegation, Secretary-General Nabil Benabdellah said the party’s position would also depend on which other parties ultimately join the coalition.

The party is expected to continue internal discussions before taking a final position.

RNI signals readiness to join

The National Rally of Independents has signaled its readiness to join the PAM-led government.

The party has said participation would allow it to continue contributing from within government to ongoing reforms and to addressing the challenges facing Morocco.

However, there are also voices within the party calling for it to move into opposition, amid disagreements over what happened with its coalition partner during the election campaign, according to Hespress Arabic.

The party’s position is expected to become clearer after its National Council meeting Saturday.

Popular Movement keeps its position open

Popular Movement Secretary-General Mohamed Ouzzine also stopped short of announcing a position following his meeting with the PAM delegation.

Ouzzine said the country’s interests were more important than whether a party joined the government or remained in opposition, and expressed hope that both sides would meet citizens’ expectations.

USFP remains reserved

The Socialist Union of Popular Forces has also yet to disclose a position on government participation.

In a statement following its meeting with the PAM committee, the party’s Political Bureau said government participation was not an end in itself, whether the party was in government or opposition, but rather a national responsibility.

USFP First Secretary Driss Lachgar did not reveal the party’s initial position after the meeting, saying discussions would remain confidential until El Mansouri completes her consultations with all parties.

UC and MDS prepare joint parliamentary group

The Constitutional Union and Democratic and Social Movement, meanwhile, have agreed to form a joint parliamentary group in the House of Representatives.

The two parties are seeking to repeat their experience of working together during the previous parliamentary term, when their joint group adopted what they described as a policy of “critical support.”

Their decision to form a joint parliamentary group comes as both parties separately participated in the first round of government formation consultations with PAM.

What comes next?

With the first round of consultations complete, several parties have yet to make a final decision on whether to join the next government.

The PJD and Left Alliance have clearly opted for opposition, while the RNI has signaled its readiness to participate. PPS, Istiqlal, the Popular Movement and USFP have so far kept their positions open or conditional.

The next stage of the process is expected to provide greater clarity as party leaderships meet to discuss the consultations and decide whether to participate in El Mansouri’s government or remain in opposition.