Morocco’s King Mohamed VI Exempts Benkirane From Helm Of Premiership

Morocco’s King Mohamed VI, has exempted the Secretary General of the ruling Justice and Development Abdelilah Benkirane from serving as prime minister, according to a statement from the Royal Cabinet issued late Wednesday.

The statement from the Royal cabinet said that  King Mohamed VI is replacing Prime Minister Abdelilah Benkirane and would ask another member of the Islamist Justice and Development Party (PJD) to form a Government after five months of post-election deadlock.

The royal statement also said that the king took the decision “in the absence of signs that suggest an imminent formation” of a Government and due to “his concern about overcoming the current logjam” in political negotiations.

Mr. Benkirane had been reappointed after the PJD, which first came to power in 2011, increased its share of the votes in October elections, maintaining its position as the biggest political party in Morocco.

But the PJD’s relations with a former coalition partner, the conservative Istiqlal party, soured over contentious economic reforms, and talks over formation of a Government with the center-right National Rally of Independence (RNI) stalled.

Concern has mounted about the impact of the dire political impasse on Morocco’s economy. 

This year’s budget, which should have been approved by parliament by the end of 2016, cannot be passed until a Government is in place.