Major media outlets write about Morocco’s King Mohammed VI who on January 3rd, 2011 named a new government dominated by moderate Islamists. The prime minister, Abdelilah Benkirane, whose moderate Islamist Justice and Development Party (PJD) took the most seats in the Nov. 25 parliamentary elections, will lead a broad coalition. Benkirane’s movement allied with three other parties close to the palace, and the king still retains veto powers over most decisions, Agence France-Presse reported. Four other posts were directly appointed by the palace, including religious affairs. Both the Foreign Ministry and the Interior Ministry have also been assigned “minister delegates,” with ties to the palace that may challenge the power of the ministers. For instance, Saadeddin al-Othmani, the number 2 of the PJD and the new foreign minister, will have to contend with minister-delegate Youssef Amrani, who was a top assistant to the previous minister.
Politics
Daily News (01/05) – Moroccan king unveils Islamist gov’t
Press TV (01/05) – Several injured during Morocco protest
ENPI (01/05) – Morocco: unemployed and police clash, slogans against King
Business Ghana (01/05) – Moroccan king appoints new government
Turkish Weekly (01/05) – Moroccan King Unveils Islamist gov’t
Magharebia (01/04) – New Morocco government brings fresh faces
Morocco News Agency (01/04) – Morocco: Benkirane’s New Government Program for Democracy
Now Morocco Blog (01/04) – Glorious King Mohammed VI Appointed The New Benkirane-Led Government
David Zhvaniya (01/04) – King Mohammed VI Appoints New Government
Chicago Tribune (01/03) – Moroccan king names Islamist-led cabinet
Economy/Business
Fin Extra (01/05) – Lycamoney and Bics open remittance corridors between the UK, Morocco and the Philippines
Business Live (01/05) – Morocco grain strong despite planting delay
Society/Culture
Grrrl Traveler (01/05) – What I learned about Fez and Moroccan culture
World/MENA Region
All Africa.com (01/05) – Tunisia: Marzouki’s Visit to Libya – a Milestone for Stronger Inter-Maghreb Unity
Arab News.com (01/05) – Does Arab Spring pose new challenges to GCC?
Irish Times.com (01/05) – Arab Spring has spread fundamentalism, not secularism
Gulf News (01/05) – Big purse up for grabs at Dubai show jumping event
Reuters (01/04) – Algeria parties demand new PM to oversee election
Financial Times (01/04) – Libya and Tunisia strengthen ties
Arab News.com (01/04) – Hamas and the Brotherhood: Reanimating history
