Moroccan premier denies reports of government reshuffle

Moroccan Prime Minister Abderrahmane Youssoufi denied Thursday reports of a possible reshuffle in September of the socialist-led coalition government appointed last March.

"I can assure that this idea crosses nobody's mind," he told the second television channel reporter who asked him for clarification on this subject. He added that a Cabinet reshuffle is a topic that the media likes to tackle in all countries.

Press reports had cited a possible reshuffle in the government after Youssoufi told a French daily that he would have liked a restricted government of some twenty ministers. The current government comprises 38 ministers from seven political parties and three ministers who do not belong to any political party. He added that his statement was misunderstood, saying that this was his wish before the government was formed.

Youssoufi also said that Moroccan citizens should be aware that the government is ceaselessly working to resolve the country's problems.

He said that Moroccan citizens should be sure of one thing: The ministers, experts and civil servants are ceaselessly working "to find the appropriate solutions to problems facing the kingdom."

He explained that, "The government is not a store where one enters to get the goods he wants... it is rather a laboratory where the country's needs are studied to find the adequate solutions."