El Fassi named as Morocco's new Prime Minister
2007-09-20
King Mohammed VI has appointed Istiqlal Secretary-General Abbas El Fassi as Morocco's new Prime Minister, in line with the results of the September 7th legislative elections in which Istiqlal took first place with 52 seats in the lower chamber of the Moroccan Parliament.
By Naoufel Cherkaoui for Magharebia in Rabat - 19/09/07
 [Getty Images] Abbas El Fassi (left) confers with King Mohammed VI at the Royal palace in Rabat September 19th. |
Morocco's King Mohammed VI received Istiqlal Party leader and former minister of state without portfolio Abbas El Fassi on Wednesday afternoon (September 19th) in Rabat, appointing him prime minister and charging him with conducting consultations with other political parties to form the next government.
The king confirmed that his "appointment of Abbas El Fassi embodies the royal observance of established democratic traditions, and takes into consideration the September 7th poll results which led to the election of the new House of Representatives."
El Fassi's appointment follows a series of meetings between the monarch and the leaders of the country's leading political parties. In order to be met by the king, a party had to obtain 20 seats -- the legal minimum representation required to form a parliamentary group -- in the recent legislative elections.
"His Majesty the King honoured me when he charged me with conducting the necessary consultations with Moroccan parties to form the upcoming government," El Fassi said following the king's announcement. "It is a great honour and a major responsibility that I fully appreciate. I shall start tomorrow with my contacts in the parties, and I will respect the advice of the king so that Morocco may have a government that will be up to the challenges and stakes; a government that will endeavour to find solutions to current problems, especially in the social field."
Commenting on the announcement, Party of Progress and Socialism Secretary-General Ismail El Alaoui told Magharebia, "This appointment was expected because it is logical and conforms to the democratic practices and also to the undertaking His Majesty the King made in his October 2004 speech before the Parliament, in which he said he would appoint the head of the party that wins the biggest number of seats in the Parliament."
El Alaoui added, "I hope the new Prime Minister will be able to form a government that adopts the same approach used by governments since 1998, with an emphasis on the social side and on the realisation of the Moroccan people's expectations in a number of fields, chief among which is employment, social issues and problems of corruption."
El Fassi said earlier that he expected the current majority, consisting of Istiqlal, the Socialist Union of Popular Forces, the Party of Progress and Socialism, the National Rally of Independents and the Popular Movement Party, would form the new government.
Although the conservative Justice and Development Party (PJD), took the second largest number of seats in the recent legislative elections, El Fassi told a local newspaper last Friday, "It's a matter of principle: we will not see the Istiqlal Party and the PJD in the same government."
El Fassi also said the PJD party "crossed the line" when it said that Moroccan politics were divided between the PJD and the "dirty" parties.
El Fassi, a 67-year-old lawyer, will be Morocco's 29th prime minister. He has served as Housing Minister (1977-1981), Minister of Handicrafts and Social Affairs (1981-1985), Ambassador to Tunisia and to the Arab League (1985-1990), Ambassador to France (1990-1994), and Minister of Employment in 2000. He was elected Secretary-General of the Istiqlal Party in 1988.
Under Article 24 of the Moroccan Constitution, the King appoints the prime minister then the rest of the cabinet at the prime minister's suggestion.
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jalal Posted 2007-09-21
I’m Jalal from Spain; I don’t agree with Abbas El Fassi, we want Driss Jettou who was better working in favour of the Moroccan communities abroad. I hope that Abbas will make an effort for Morocco to progress. Long live Morocco. Long live Mohamed VI, may God grant him long life. Long live the Moroccan government.
xs Posted 2007-09-21
Bravo!
ابن الصلاح المغربي Posted 2007-09-21
You should know, Abbas, that most Moroccan people are unhappy and dissatisfied with your appointment as Prime Minister. Go down to the streets and see if they will welcome you with flowers. On your neck Abbas there are 30,000 of the victims of the Najat case, 4 of whom have committed suicide. And there are serious oppositions against your victory with the highest remnants in other words. When the PJD said that it was facing money, this is true 100%. And you know that a big number of the deputies in your party used money and gangs and I will give you examples: You should go down to the street to see the opinions of people and you’ll see the truth. I will give you examples: In Fes, Choubat made gangs intimidating people knowing that most residents of Fes hate him. In the constituency of Sebata in Casablanca, Ghellab distributed money like what his colleague Badou did in the constituency of Anfa in the poor neighbourhoods, and there are many other examples. You should know Abbas that the victory was stolen from the PJD with money and gangs. Note: I don’t belong to any party but I sympathize with the PJD.
tarmounia othmane Posted 2007-09-21
Congratulations Mr. Abbas el Fassi. You have my best wishes in keeping up the good work with your politics, which are going to do some good for Morocco. I am very happy about your nomination and for the confidence you have put into His Majesty, King Mohammed VI. Congratulations a second time. Long Live the King!
khalid Posted 2007-09-22
Hi, My name is Khalid. I am a 30-year-old professor and president of the Association for Rural Development. I hope that the new Prime Minister Abas el Fassi is going to choose some respectable and able-bodied people to construct a new and strong Morocco.
صديق Posted 2007-09-23
No, no Abbas El Fassi, you don't deserve the government, you've robbed the PJD today...and after 4 years what will you do to us...please stay away from the government before...it...
حياة Posted 2007-09-25
The scandal of Badou is rattling. She took advantage of being the Minister of social solidarity, just one week before the elections, she collected the national cards of a big number of women after promising that they will benefit of micro-credits. The poor women were surprised as their cards weren’t returned to them before the day of the elections and they were deprived of their constitutional right to participate in the elections. It was not Badou alone who behaved like this, many candidates offered money to get electoral cards as a way to determine the electorate. This has affected the turnout rate in the Moroccan elections. Adopting one paper for the vote made it possible for election intermediaries to buy votes. And even if they give money, the result won’t be certain. So they started buying electoral cards instead of votes, then they’re sure that the votes have not gone to their opponents. So the candidate who is certain to get 1000 votes in his constituency where there are 3000 voters, he tries to get rid of the biggest number of voters as he’s not sure of their votes. And if he succeeds in buying over 1001 cards, he’s sure to win. But the result is an awful drop in the turnout.
عبدالرحيم الفريق Posted 2007-10-01
In the name of God, peace and prayer on the best of messengers Mohamed…At last, the brother and spiritual father Papa Abbas El Fassi on top of the government with a wise monarch appointment…He’s a golden history in which he has sacrificed his life for militancy. It’s the story of a whole history at the service of the nation and the throne. The story goes back to many years, and the sun of future shines. He came with the dew of a nice summer day from the womb of the nation which awakened history and slept…A child, since his early age he abridged the way to manhood. He endured the sufferings and injuries of the nation looking for the deliverance. This is why he in the circle of action and in the face of events…So the critics should be more patient, the messenger of God peace and prayer upon him was sent by God, Quraich received him with offense, insult and stones even though he was a light and mercy for them and for all humanity…Wait for a while and submit your evidence if you’re right…So why this pessimism, did you have a knowledge about the future? Men are inside their clothes, and why don’t we applaud the decision of the king? He’s the only one who looks at Morocco from a bigger window and a wider door. So don’t underestimate the militant Sir Abbas and you’ll see inchaallah his constructive economic and social process. I have suffered and I’m still suffering, but I did never trust any of the previous governments as much as I felt reassured when I heard that Abbas El Fassi is at the head of the government. Be patient and don’t be hasty until you see by yourselves…Oh Lord assist with your mercy Abbas El Fassi and show him the right and wisdom. To conclude, oh Lord open the doors of welfare in Morocco with his hands, oh Lord make the affairs of this heavy legacy easier for him. Oh Lord assist him to the good and make everyone love him….Wait for the dawn to wander in the garden of flowers produced by the respectable Abbas El Fassi…
MAJID Posted 2007-10-16
It is illogical that the PJD should remain outside the government. It is scandalous and makes no sense. At the very least we must let those who haven't had the chance to give the country what they can. It is idiotic what was done with the socialists.
NAJIB Posted 2007-10-17
Hello, the nomination of Mr. Fassi El Fihri to head Morocco's government by His Majesty King Mohammed VI — may God aid him in his path — is a sign that Morocco has moved beyond the stages of conceptualizing its democracy. Together, the political parties, organizations, intelligentsia and Moroccans living abroad are constructing a new Morocco hand-in-hand by reinforcing the notion of the Moroccan citizenry following a single path. That path leads to a United and Strong Morocco, able to face the real problem, the problem of globalization. To do it with courage, we need education, health and employment and we must protect our environment and the efficient use of our water. It may be a little late now, but optimism is God’s gift. To God, The Patrimony and the King!
Alami mehdi Posted 2007-12-30
In the process of the Prime Minister meeting with the World Bank commission, one problem with regards to the public politics was brought to light. That is: one important remark was made concerning the deterioration of our politics because certain leaders are acting on behalf of their own personal bank accounts, using their position and contacts to benefit their salary. And, this is at the risk of ruining our governmental politics. Because of their egotistical interests and their urge to satisfy their animal impulses, the sadistic provincial delegations of Hay Mohammadi and Nafa, Casablanca have committed horrible crimes and flagrant violations both against human rights and our constitution. This is what pushed the World Bank to bring up two troubling issues in their recent annual report: administrative corruption and human rights violations, both of which have deprived the Moroccan economy of $8 billion dollars. This money came from both the UN’s donations and foreign investments. The report makes no mention of the functioning budget of certain provincial administrations like that of Hay Mohammadi and Nafa, where money laundering deriving from drug, oil, human and organ trafficking is blatantly part of Casablanca commerce. For more information, search Google for the following names: Othmani, Zemmrani Mohamed, Senhaji Abdelaal, Raoul Yacoubi, Said Benbiga, Khlifa and Hmamsi Abdelghafar.
brahim sik Posted 2008-05-07
May God not assist you Moroccan government, there is no power and no will but from God Almighty.
idir Posted 2008-05-08
You do not have the right to be the Prime Minister of Morocco, Abbas, because you are against the Amazighs who have called for their political detainees and the Amazighs in general to be freed!!! These are my observations as a student at FST in Errachidia.
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