Morocco’s National Council of the Independence Party [PI] has suggested it may leave the national government and join the opposition, in an announcement at the 16th Congress. The Council declared, in its closing statement, that the party had to decide between “political and electoral weight” or "serving its ideas, programmes and vision” in Morroco. The PI meanwhile criticised the government, stressing that being a part of the current coalition did not prevent the party from criticising “everything it does to harm Morocco’s poor.” Meanwhile, the National Council of the country’s Balance Party expressed concern over human rights abuses, reportedly recorded on a daily basis by national human rights organisations. The party warned against rising tensions in Marrakech and Figuig following the government’s refusal to implement commitments pledged by previous coalitions.