The election came a day after Khayr was dismissed from her ministerial post, barely 48 hours after joining the cabinet headed by Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri.
Mekkaoui was chosen at an expanded meeting of the party’s parliamentary group chaired by Istiqlal secretary-general Nizar Baraka, according to an announcement posted on the party’s official Facebook page.
Khayr had been elected head of the Istiqlal parliamentary group on Oct 8, succeeding Allal Amraoui, but vacated the position following her appointment as minister delegate in charge of vocational training and qualification on Oct 16.
King Mohammed VI relieved her of her ministerial duties on Sunday, Oct 18, at the request of the Head of Government under Article 47 of the Constitution.
Her dismissal came as Istiqlal was preparing to fill the parliamentary leadership vacancy, bringing fresh attention to the party’s internal affairs.
Mekkaoui entered the House of Representatives after winning the Fquih Ben Salah seat in the Sept 23 legislative elections.
He previously served in the House of Councillors from 2015 to 2021, where he chaired the Finance and Economic Development Committee.
