Middle-east Arab News Opinion | Asharq Al-awsat

Morocco: JDP Decides on Ministerial Candidates | ASHARQ AL-AWSAT English Archive 2005 -2017
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Saad Eddine El Othmani of the Islamist Justice and Development Party (PJD) gives his first speech during a meeting of PJD at the Moulay Rachid Complex in Rabat, March 18, 2017. REUTERS/Stringer


Rabat – The Justice and Development Party (JDP) has decided on the candidates who will handle ministerial portfolios in the next government. Morocco’s Prime Minister Saad Eddine el-Othmani is expected to receive this Saturday lists in the names of ministers of the governing coalition parties.

While Othmani refused to reveal the ministerial portfolios to be granted to his party – JDP – some names were suggested to remain in their positions in the next government. The party has also nominated three women to play a role in the government.

Othmani restrained from announcing the ministerial portfolios that the party will insist on having and considered that this issue requires a dialogue with other parties.

Abdelilah Benkirane absented himself from the meeting of the secretariat and left the decision to Othmani to select the ministers given that the secretary general is also the prime minister.

The secretary general chooses one out of the three nominated names for each portfolio and he can also choose a figure from outside the list.

A member in the party told Asharq Al-Awsat that the party is willing to maintain the number of governmental positions as that in the previous government (11 portfolios).

PJD’s Spokesman Slimane Omrani stated that the secretary general of the party has held a long meeting on Thursday that lasted for six hours to examine the suggested names. Omrani continued that three names were added by the secretariat.

He added that three names were suggested for every ministerial portfolio and that “what is important in this process, whether the first meeting on Saturday or the second on Thursday, was the positive atmosphere.”

Omrani stressed that selection was made based on neutrality and on choosing the best candidate.