King Hassan determined to make alternation succeed, Youssoufi says
Morocco, Politics, 12/11/1998

Moroccan Prime Minister, Abderrahmane Youssoufi, expressed confidence as to the determination of King Hassan II to make of the Moroccan alternation (where political opposition came to power) experiment a success.

"When I was called by His Majesty the king, I went to the audience without being certain that I would accept. But, after the conversation we had, and after I perceived that His Majesty was determined to make the alternation experiment a success, that he would back me in my difficult endeavor, I accepted without any hesitation," Youssoufi told French LCI TV channel.

He added that he accepted the Royal offer "because I was persuaded that Morocco needed this alternation experience." Youssoufi added that he and his friends and allies are sparing no effort to secure the success of the experiment. "I think that I am doomed to succeed," he said.

Youssoufi was appointed last February by King Hassan II to form a center-left coalition government after long years of right wing rule in Morocco. He is leading a 40-portfolio government with the participation of seven political parties.

Youssoufi, who is leader of the Socialist Union of Popular Forces, had refused in 1993 to form a government that would include Driss Basri as interior minister. Basri was however maintained in the Youssoufi cabinet, together with three other independent ministers, namely, Abdellatif Filali, minister of foreign affairs and cooperation, Omar azzimane, minister of justice and Abdelkebir Alaoui Mdaghri, minister of endowments and Islamic affairs.

Touching on the presence of Basri in the current cabinet, Youssoufi said he does not consider him as "an obstacle to the shift to the rule of law in Morocco." "Otherwise I would not have accepted to engage in this undertaking."

"Mr. Basri has experience, we have already cooperated when I was in the opposition for the working out of the electoral laws. I realized that he is a man with whom you can do business," Youssoufi added.

Please add a link on your webiste pointing to ArabicNews.com and bookmark ArabicNews.com & subscribe to our daily email news bulletin.

Search