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Moroccan PM Avoids Getting King Involved in Government Lineup Disputes | ASHARQ AL-AWSAT English Archive 2005 -2017
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Moroccan Prime Minister Abdelilah Benkirane speaks during an interview with Reuters in his house in Rabat, Morocco, October 3, 2016. REUTERS/Stringer FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NO RESALES. NO ARCHIVES


Rabat- Moroccan Prime Minister Abdelilah Benkirane has expressed his unwillingness to resort to royal arbitration regarding consultations on the government line-up which is in a stagnation state due to dispute between Benkirane and some parties, after more than two months from 7 October general elections.

Benkirane said in a meeting for the regional council on Sunday in Rabat, “The king arbitrates among institutions and not parties and I will not get him involved in matters related to political parties—these parties should be responsible themselves.”

“If the king decides to carry on early elections, we will participate despite not supporting this step,” he added. Benkirane undermined the lateness in announcing the government line-up, considering it a normal issue and denying the fact that Morocco has entered a phase of political crisis.

Commenting on Benkirane statements, member of the Justice and Development Party (PJD) Abdul Aziz Aftati told Asharq al-Awsat that Benkirane’s unwillingness to get the royal institution involved in the government line-up related issue is correct.

“The stance of Benkirane is right and many parties that respect the constitution and institutions back it,” he added.

Also commenting on Benkirane discouragement to carry on legislative elections as a solution to the government line-up crisis, Aftati said that “holding elections will not bring anything new and things will remain the same—if elections are held, the PJD will win with even more seats while the Authenticity and Modernity Party will be defeated.”

The stumbling of the government formation is due to a dispute between Benkirane and Aziz Akhannouch, Secretary General of the National Rally of Independents Party (RNI), who refuses the participation of Independence Party in the upcoming future unlike Benkirane.