Bensaid likely to stay on top of leftist party

Mohamed Bensaid, long-time leader of the Moroccan leftist party the Organization for Democratic and Popular Action (OADP) said he is likely to stay on top of the party upon the wish of the organization.

Bensaid told MAP news agency that he did not wish to stay as leader of the party, but the OADP members want him to stay.

"I did not refuse to run for a new term, although I wish that there will be other candidacies," said Bensaid, whose party is preparing to hold its 4th congress this weekend in Mohammedia, near Casablanca.

Set up in 1983, OADP has four seats in the house of representatives, lower chamber of parliament.

Although it belongs to the democratic bloc together with the Socialist Union of Popular Forces of Premier Abderrahmane Youssoufi, the Istiqlal Party (PI) and the Party for Progress and Socialism (PPS), the OADP does not participation in the center-left coalition government.

The congress will debate issues related to internal democracy and the party's position regarding a set of national and international questions.