Morocco's new PM to meet possible coalition allies

21/09/2007

[Getty Images] El Fassi

Morocco's newly appointed Prime Minister, Abbas El Fassi, will meet with leaders of four parties from the outgoing ruling coalition on Friday (September 21st). The outgoing coalition consisted of the Socialist Union for Popular Forces (USFP), the Party of Progress and Socialism (PPS), the Popular Movement (MP) and the National Rally of Independents (RNI). El Fassi has suggested he may renew the old coalition. However, some local political analysts believe he may exclude the USFP and invite the Justice and Development Party (PJD) in its place. The PJD performed better than the USFP in the September 7th elections, garnering the second highest number of seats, while the USFP took fifth place. PJD Deputy Chairman Abdelillah Benkirane reportedly told AFP that the party would be willing to join the ruling coalition.