Election-related row between Makri and Soltani jolts MSP movement

The Islamist movement for the society of peace (MSP) is now going through an acute crisis marked by a bitter row between two of the movement’s stalwarts namely Abudjerra Soltani and Abderrazak Makri over the most appropriate candidate to be filed by the MSP for next April’s presidential elections.

A host of members of the movement’s national bureau and those of the “shoura” or consultative council are said to be at loggerheads over a consensual candidate who will vie for the presidential rostrum on behalf of the MSP movement.

Well – informed sources told Echorouk that two opposing camps had now emerged within the party, one of them backing former MSP leader Abudjerra Soltani and current leader Abderrazak Makri as their preferred presidential candidate. The other militants are still undecided about this topical issue.

The row was sparked off in the wake of Makri’s unilateral decision to announce his candidacy for the April presidential electoral contest without seeking as usual the prior blessing from the decision – making “Shoura” or consultative council of the movement.

The sources also said that the MSP’s  Shoura or consultative council was scheduled to meet shortly to examine how best to clear the air so as to prevent the current internal election – related crisis from worsening even further.

The council is also expected to pick out the movement’s official candidate or may be announce the MSP’s non participation in the upcoming presidential polls, the same sources added.