After polls, Moroccan parties begin coalition talks

By Khaled Majdoub

RABAT

Moroccan political parties began consultations this week on the formation of a new coalition government following parliamentary polls held earlier this month.

Consultations are being overseen by Prime Minister-designate Abdelilah Benkirane, who is also head of the Justice and Development Party, which won a majority of votes in the Oct. 7 elections.

Three days after the polls, Moroccan King Mohammed VI appointed Benkirane as PM-designate and tasked him with drawing up a new government.

Benkirane’s proposed cabinet line-up needs the support of at least 198 out of 395 MPs to secure the assembly’s confidence.

On Monday, Benkirane announced that talks would include representatives from all parties that won parliamentary seats, with the exception of the "Authenticity of Modernity" party -- a right-wing opposition party that came in second in the polls.

Other main parties to take part in the talks include the Popular Movement party and the Progress and Socialism party, both of which had been part of the outgoing coalition government.

Benkirane has vowed that Morocco’s next government would "include reasonable parties" and "reflect the popular will".