Morocco's USFP leader steps down over party crisis

04/12/2007

[File] Yazghi

Morocco's Socialist Union of Popular Forces (USFP) first secretary and minister of state without portfolio Mohamed El Yazghi said that in a bid to "preserve the party's unity", he will leave his position as a party leader and end his activities in the party's political bureau, MAP reported Monday (December 3rd). Yazkhi explained his decision by a need to "rebuild the Socialist Union of Popular Forces", saying that he shares the "deep concerns" of the party's members over the results of the September 7th elections. The opposition party was a leading force in the outgoing government coalition with 50 seats in the lower house and eight ministers. It came in fifth place in the September elections, winning only 36 seats.