Two Moroccan parties to merge

Two Moroccan Political parties, the Party for Progress and Socialism (PPS) and the Socialist Democratic Party (PSD) will become one party shortly, PPS Secretary General, Smail Alaoui announced.

The fusion will conform to the principles of the PPS, which has always called for the formation of a solid front of the progressive and democratic forces, Alaoui told the Moroccan TV channel RTM.

The PPS set up in 1992 the democratic bloc (former opposition) together with the Socialist Union of Popular Forces of Prime Minister Abderrahmane Youssoufi, the Istiqlal Party and the Organization of Democratic and Popular Action (OADP).

The PSD split from the OADP following a referendum on the amendment of the Constitution in 1996.

All the parties of the Koutla are represented in the Youssoufi government, except the OADP.

The PPS has three ministers in the government and 9 MPs at the House of Representatives (lower house), while the PSD as 1 minister and 3 MPs.

The two parties joined together to form a parliamentary group in the House of Representatives.