Morocco’s Socialist Union of Popular Forces (USFP) has agreed to take part in the country’s next government. The party’s National Council approved the move on Saturday after a meeting at which party leader Driss Lachgar gave a presentation.
In a statement, the council said its participation would rest on the party’s adopted electoral programme. It tied the decision to consolidating Morocco’s democratic development, strengthening institutions and turning its proposals into “clear government commitments”. The statement also called for consistency between the programme, the make-up of the government and the mechanisms used to implement and evaluate its work. The council presented the move as a sign of the party’s determination to help consolidate the democratic process. Lachgar was handed the mandate to negotiate the offer of government participation on the party’s behalf.
The USFP won 26 seats in the legislative elections held on 23 September. The Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM) came first with 97 seats, followed by the National Rally of Independents (RNI) with 66 and the Istiqlal Party with 65. The Justice and Development Party (PJD) took 54 seats and the Popular Movement 29. Further down, the Party of Progress and Socialism won 19, the Constitutional Union 17, and the Democratic and Social Movement and the Left Alliance eight each. The Front of Democratic Forces and the Equity Party won two seats apiece, while the Neo-Democrats Party and the Party of Unity and Democracy took one each.
King Mohammed VI appointed PAM’s Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri as head of government in September, after the vote, making her the first woman to hold the post in Morocco. She has since been consulting political parties on the shape of her coalition. Not every party wants a place in it. The PJD has said it will stay in opposition and argues that it returns stronger, with 54 seats compared with 13 in 2021. The Left Alliance has also decided to remain in opposition. The seat totals across all parties add up to 395, so a governing majority requires at least 198 seats. PAM’s 97 seats leave El Mansouri well short of that figure on her own, which makes the USFP’s 26 seats a useful addition to whatever coalition she builds. The final composition of the cabinet and the distribution of ministerial portfolios among coalition members have not yet been announced.
