Morocco’s king dismisses PM and FM is nominated for position

Moroccan Royal Court announced that Abdelilah Benkirane is no longer the country’s prime minister because of his delay in the formation of his new government and is preparing to appoint a replacement from within Benkirane’s party. The firing of Benkirane is the result of his inability to form a coalition government, that would have included ministers from other parties, as required by Moroccan law.

Most nominations are heading towards Foreign Minister Saad Al Din Al Ottomani who is considered one of the experienced ministers of Benkirane’s government, while others expect that Minister of Justice Mustafa Al Ramid is strongly nominated for taking the position.

A surprise palace statement late Wednesday announced that King Mohammed VI had removed Abdelilah Benkirane, the head of the Islamist party PJD that won last year's parliamentary elections, from his duties.

"The king extolled, on several occasions, the designated prime minister to accelerate the creation of a new government," the statement said The king is expected to name another member of the Party for Justice and Development to replace Benkirane.

The PJD won the October election, but didn't get enough seats to govern alone and has struggled to form a coalition with rival parties. The impasse has threatened to damage Morocco's reputation in the region for political stability after years of upheaval in the Arab world.

While ultimate power in Morocco rests with the king, he rarely intervenes directly in forming a government. He did so this time, the palace said, "to overcome the current situation of immobility" and "in his constant concern for consolidating democratic choice."

It was a big blow for Benkirane, who became prime minister after his moderate party won elections in 2011 for the first time in the wake of Arab Spring uprisings. Protests in Morocco prompted constitutional reforms granting more powers to the elected government.

The past PJD-led government was a coalition of parties from left and right, but tensions have since surfaced and Benkirane no longer enjoys the same broad support.