Morocco's newly appointed premier carries on consultation to form government

Morocco's newly appointed prime minister, Driss Jettou on Friday continued consultations with political parties with a view to forming a new government in light of the legislative elections, held September 27 in Morocco.

Jettou, who is also Minister of the Interior, met with Abderrazzak Afilal, Secretary-General of the UGTM trade union (close to the Istiqlal Party) and Saad-Eddine Othmani, Assistant Secretary-General of the Justice and Development Party (PJD/moderate Islamist).

He also met with the leaders of the Berber-oriented parties, namely Mahjoubi Aherdane, Secretary-General of the National Popular Movement (MNP) and Mohand Laensar, Secretary General of the Popular Movement.

The Islamist PJD party came in third in last September legislative poll with 42 seats in the 325-member House of Representatives. The MP won 27 seats and MNP 20.

Jettou, who met earlier in the day the leaders of the Constitutional Union and the National Democrat Party, will meet this Saturday with leader of the Unified Socialist Left (GSU), Mohamed Bensaid Ait Idder, and with leaders of the UMT trade union.