The King of Morocco has appointed a government largely composed of technocrats, renewing the holders of the regal ministries. This new cabinet also has seven women, on 24 ministers, against four previously.
Le Monde with AFP
The King of Morocco Mohammed VI has appointed, Thursday, October 7, a new government, led by Aziz Akhannouch, considered a close to the palace, which will a priority to straighten the kingdom confronted with the health crisis related to COVID-19 and deep social inequalities.
In this team widely made up of technocrats, the holders of the regal ministries are renewed. Thus, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nasser Bourita, is maintained in his duties in a context of regional tensions, particularly with Algeria. Abdelouafi Laftit retains the interior portfolio. With 24 ministers, this new cabinet counts seven women against four in the outgoing government.
At the top of the legislative elections of September 8, the three parties of the government majority – the National Gathering of the Independents (RNI) of Mr. Akhannouch, the Authenticity and Modernity Party (WFP), both of the Liberal Trend, and The Istiqlal Party (PI, Right Center) – share the portfolios.
The RNI to strategic portfolios
Grand voting winner, the RNI retains the strategic positions of agriculture – where succeeds Mr. Akhannouch, his number two in the department, Mohamed Sadiki – and the economy, with Nadia Fettah, former Minister of Tourism. He also gets the Ministry of Health, with Nabila Rmili, also new mayor of Casablanca, economic capital. The party of Aziz Akhannouch, described as a trusted man of the royal house, had made a raid on the House of Representatives during the legislative, thraising 102 of the 395 seats and dislodging Islamists in power over a decade.
WFP, founded by a Royal Adviser, Fouad Ali El Himma, inherited justice and land use planning. As for Istiqlal (“Independence”), the oldest party of Morocco, founded in the 1940s, he inherited the positions of equipment and industry. National Education, target criticism and in search of deep reform, returns to the current ambassador of Morocco in France, Chakib Benmoussa.
This former Minister of the Interior is also Chairman of the Commission, mandated by the Monarch, who developed the new development model (NMD), a political pact establishing the socio-economic priorities of the Kingdom. This roadmap aims to respond to the slowdown in growth and reduce the deep inequalities that strike Morocco. It aims to double the gross domestic product (GDP) per capita by living on the horizon 2035.
The new government facing challenges
The Government Akhannouch will have to face the heavy repercussions of the health crisis related to the Pandemic of Covid-19: the economy contracted by 7% in 2020, the unemployment rate jumped to 11.9% the Same year and social disparities have dug, according to official reports. The executive will also have the mission to carry out the ambitious project of generalization of medical coverage for 22 million Moroccans (nearly 36 million) by 2025 as announced by the Sovereign in 2020. Many Moroccans N ‘ can not afford to access private care, high costs, while public benefits leave something to be desired.
Head of the RNI since 2016, Mr. Akhannouch will present his program in the coming days before the House of Representatives in order to obtain his confidence, a formality, as the constitution does. Discreet, Aziz Akhannouch has one of the largest fortunes in Morocco, estimated at two billion dollars according to the Forbes specialty magazine.
In the past, he has been the subject of bright criticism of collusion between business and politics. This businessman leads a tentacular holding, Akwa Group, which operates mainly in hydrocarbons and real estate. In the aftermath of his appointment at the head of the government, he announced his withdrawal of “any management” of the family holding.
In 2011, in the context of the “Arab Spring”, Morocco had adopted a new constitution granting broad prerogatives to Parliament and the government, closer to the standards of the parliamentary monarchy, while devoting a central role for the king , of which the decisions and major guidelines are emanated in key sectors.