Tuesday 18 / March / 2025
RABAT: Morocco's King Mohammed on Monday named moderate extremist leader Abdelilah Benkirane as prime minister for a second term after his party won the most seats in last week's election, a senior party member said.
After five years in government, the Justice and Development Party (PJD) party won 125 seats while the rival Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM) took 102, in a tight race for the 395-seat parliament that will complicate formation of a coalition.
"I can confirm his majesty named him as the new prime minister," Mustapha Ramid, outgoing justice minister and a senior PJD party official, told Reuters, after attending the nomination of Benkirane in Casablanca.
Benkirane confirmed his nomination to local news websites.
Under Morocco's multi-party system, no one party can secure an outright majority, and must negotiate with others to form a coalition government.
The PAM's strong position means the PJD must join with at least three other parties to have a house majority.
Since being appointed prime minister in 2011, Benkirane has pursued economic reforms to reduce the budget deficit and tackle subsidies.
The PJD has been popular for its anti-corruption messag
