Head of Government-designate Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri held a second meeting with Istiqlal Secretary-General Nizar Baraka on Wednesday evening as negotiations continued over the next government, with PAM also seeking to secure the presidency of the House of Representatives.
The two met at PAM’s regional headquarters in Rabat, where El Mansouri has been receiving party leaders since King Mohammed VI appointed her on Sept 29 and tasked her with forming a government.
Istiqlal, which won 65 seats in the Sept 23 elections, has authorized Baraka to negotiate the party’s participation in the next majority.
At his first meeting with El Mansouri, Baraka called for restoring public confidence in politics and honoring commitments made during the election campaign.
Wednesday’s talks followed a series of meetings with other parties this week. El Mansouri has already received PPS Secretary-General Nabil Benabdallah, USFP First Secretary Driss Lachgar and Popular Movement representatives in the second round of consultations.
According to informed sources, El Mansouri is considering a government bringing together PAM and the three parties of the historic Koutla—Istiqlal, USFP and PPS.
The four parties would have 207 seats in the 395-member House of Representatives, nine more than the 198 required for an absolute majority.
PAM emerged from the elections with 97 seats, followed by Istiqlal with 65, while USFP secured 26 and PPS 19.
The proposed alliance has yet to be agreed, with negotiations covering a common government program, economic and social commitments, and the allocation of responsibilities.
PPS has left the decision on whether to join the government to its Political Bureau, headed by Benabdallah. Its Central Committee unanimously delegated that authority on Tuesday after a debate in which some members argued for leaving opposition, provided the party secured an agreement on a joint social program.
USFP has authorized Lachgar and Mustapha Ajjab to continue negotiations, insisting that participation must rest on a common program and shared political principles.
El Mansouri received a mandate to continue the consultations from PAM’s National Council at its extraordinary meeting in Skhirat on Saturday.
PAM is also seeking the presidency of the House of Representatives, according to sources familiar with the discussions.
The party wants its position as the largest parliamentary group following the elections to be reflected in the leadership of the lower house.
Several parties are due to convene their newly elected parliamentary groups on Thursday to choose their leaders ahead of the opening of the new parliamentary term.
