Rabat – The heated debate on Monday around the chairmanship of the House of Representatives signalled the first trial of strength between the new governmental majority and the opposition.
The benches of the Lower House were the scene of skirmish between the majority, led by the Justice and Development Party (PJD), the biggest winner of the legislative elections of February 25, and the opposition that questioned the constitutionality of the candidacy of Istiqlal Party’s Karim Ghellab.
The session was delayed an hour and half, as many lawmakers said his candidacy is unconstitutional in the eyes of article 14 of the organic law of the House. They argued that while the article stipulates that the term of a member of the House of Representatives is incompatible with being member of government, Ghellab is still holding office as the Equipment and Transport Minister in the outgoing cabinet.
The MPs of the Socialist Union of Popular Forces (USFP), traditional ally of the Istiqlal Party within the Democratic Koutla bloc, walk out from the session in protest against “violation of the Constitution,” referring to the abovementioned article.
The USFP opted for the opposition following the legislative elections of November 25.
Ghelleb obtained 222 votes against 82 for his rival Mohamed Abou, of the National Rally of the Independents (RNI), while 16 ballot papers were annulled.
He tendered his resignation as minister to the outgoing Prime Minister Abbas El Fassi.
During the polls of November 25, the Istiqlal party won 60 seats in the 359-seat Parliament, coming after the winning Justice and Development Party (PJD), which secured 107 seats.
Abdelilah Benkirane, PJD Secretary General, is designated to lead a government coalition, which includes along with his party the Istiqlal Party, the Popular Movement party (MP) and the Progress and Socialism Party (PPS).
With 117-seat coalition, Benkirane secured a “comfortable majority” to form the first elected government after the adoption of the country’s new constitution last July.
