The secular center-right Istiqlal Party, which resigned fromMorocco‘s Islamist-led governing coalition, has decided to ally with the main opposition Socialist Union of Popular Forces (USFP).
After a meeting with the members of the USFP, the Istiqlal Party said in a written statement the two parties would establish an ‘alternative front’ based on politics, economisc and social issues.
The new formation will struggle against ‘extremist and reactionist groups’, said the statement. It also urged the implementation of the new constitution and called for freedom of press and freedom of cultural and artistic activities.
Istiqlal is the second-largest party in the Moroccan parliament after the ruling Justice and Development Party (PJD) which advocates moderate Islam.
Announcing its withdrawal from the government on May 11, Istiqlal Party blamed Prime Minister Abdelilah Benkirane for ‘acting like the head of a political party rather than the head of a government that represents the people and adopting policies which prompts fraud.’
The Istiqlal Party has 60 seats in the 395-seat Moroccan Parliament and five of its six ministers resigned last Tuesday.
The PJD now has to find a new coalition partner.
World Bulletin
