The major opposition Istiqlal party held its
16 th congress from 29 June to 1 July. At the top of the agenda was the
process of choosing a new leader to succeed former prime minister Abbas
El Fassi. The party traditionally chooses a leader by acclamation based
on consensus.
This time elections seemed to be necessary because two
contrasting candidates have come forward:
-
Abdelouahed El Fassi , Abbas El Fassi's son; and
-
Hamid Chabat, populist mayor of Fès as well as the secretary general of the Union générale des travailleurs marocains (UGTM). Chabat, who has his supporters, says he will step down from his union post if he is elected as party leader. Unfortunately, two of his sons are currently in jail (one for drugs-related offences) and Chabat himself is currently facing legal action.
Observers say that a consensus candidate may be chosen from
among the party's leading figures. Possible candidates include former
transport minister Karim Ghellab; former housing and urban
development minister Taoufik Hejra; and Saâd
Alami. Another popular alternative candidate to Chabat,
Abdelkader El Kyhel, (aged 40), is too young to stand.
Abbas El Fassi stated to the press that “the party wants
neither revolutionaries in its ranks nor candidates for the secretary
general's post who have court cases pending”. At the close of the
congress, there was no consensus candidate and elections had
not been held.
The question of Istiqlal's leadership is now on hold until an
executive committee meeting in September. The Palace has expressed no
preference for any particular candidate. Chabat declared after the
congress that he had no intention of withdrawing his
candidature for the leadership.
For more news and expert analysis about Morocco, please see Morocco Politics & Security.
© 2012 Menas Associates
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