Morocco's PJD likely to stay in opposition

23/09/2007

[File] Othmani

Morocco's Justice and Development Party (PJD), which won the second largest number of seats in the country's September 7th legislative elections, is likely to remain in opposition, Asharq Al Awsat reported on Friday (September 21st). Although incoming Prime Minister Abbas El Fassi reportedly invited the party to join the new ruling coalition, PJD Secretary-General Saâd Eddine Othmani told Asharq Al Awsat in an interview that the PJD would prefer "to be part of a strong opposition than take a weak role in the next government."

El Fassi began government formation consultations on Thursday, meeting first with the Socialist Union for Popular Forces, which came in fifth in the elections with 38 out of 325 parliamentary seats. The party reportedly agreed to join the new government. On Friday, El Fassi met with leaders of the Party of Progress and Socialism, which won 17 seats, and leaders of the Popular Movement, which took 41 seats. The consultations were expected to continue over the weekend.