MOROCCO: King ousts PM over post-election deadlock

The king of Morocco is to appoint a new prime minister after five months of talks on forming a coalition government ended in failure, the royal palace has announced. King Mohammed VI took the decision “in the absence of signs that suggest an imminent formation” of a government and due to “his concern about overcoming […]

The king of Morocco is to appoint a new prime minister after five months of talks on forming a coalition government ended in failure, the royal palace has announced.
King Mohammed VI 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 blockage” in political negotiations, the royal statement said.
King Mohammed is expected to name another member of the Islamist Party for Justice and Development (PJD) to replace Abdelilah Benkirane.
Under Morocco’s election law no party can win an outright majority in the 395-seat parliament, making coalition governments a necessity in a system where the king still holds ultimate power. But the PJD failed to form a majority despite five months of intense negotiations – the longest time Morocco has been without a government in its recent history.