- Global Voices - https://globalvoices.org -

Morocco: Morocco Welcomes New Prime Minister

Categories: Middle East & North Africa, Morocco, Breaking News, Governance, Politics

Following the September 7 elections, Moroccan King Mohammed VI [1] appointed a new prime minister, Abbas el-Fassi [2], to replace Driss Jettou [3], who had served in that position since 2002. El-Fassi, who may be best known for a failed business operation involving an Emirati cruise ship (which left many hopeless young men vying for jobs and lead a few to commit suicide), is a member of the winning Istiqlal [4] (Independence) party.

A Moro in America [5] gives a bit of background information:

Abbas al-Fassi is more known for the infamous Annajat fictious employment contract than for any achievement in his previous governmental appointments. Few years ago, He was in charge of managing a large contract with an Emirati Cruise ship, where more than 34000 young Moroccans applied and paid more than 1000 Dirhams for medical tests and miscellaneous fees before the company vanished from the face of the earth. Several disillusioned young men committed suicide and Abbas al-Fassi refused to resign or even apologize for the failing operation. Since then, he has been constantly under the mercy of independent press criticism.


Ange Bleu
(fr) broke the news, saying:

Le souverain marocain a fait son choix et ouuuiii, le nouveau 1er ministre marocain n'est autre que le fameux ABBAS ELFASSI.

The Moroccan sovereign made his choice and yeeessss, the new Moroccan prime minister is none other than famous ABBAS ELFASSI.


Ghasbouba
is perplexed by the choice:

Abbas El Fassi prime minister as part of the puzzle unfolds. what is next? His resignation for example [6]. What does Si Larbi think now?

The two year old post referenced by Ghasbouba and originally published by Larbi [7] (fr) is drawing new comments. This one (fr/ar) was posted today:

c'est un vrai scandale ce qui se passe nomme un feneant comme premier ministre ca ne peut se passer qu'au maroc jdoudna lwala l'ont dit madomta fi lmaghrib fala tastaghrib je voulait juste dire un truc c'est que cette nomination veut simplement dire au monde qu'au maroc il y a une democratie mais le probleme c'est qu'avant de se soucier de l'international il faudra convaincre la nation qui n'a plus confiance en rien et surtout les jeunes qui ont jeter les eponges plus personnes ne s'en foue et c'est la chose la plus grave qui peut arrive a ce pays 30% qui ont vote c'est grave lah ykoun bhad lblad ou khlass personnelement j ai du mal a imaginer les 5 annnees a venire

What's going on with the new prime minister is a true scandal and what's going to happen to Morocco (our ancestors said “if you're in Morocco, don't be surprised”)? I want to talk about one point – that this new nomination simply means to the world that Morocco has a true democracy but the real problem is before we should care about what the international community thinks, we have to convince our nation that doesn't trust anyone, especially the young people who have thrown the towel in that nobody cares and that's the worst thing that can happen to this country. Thirty percent (30%) who voted – it's bad. God take care of this country and I don't know what's going to happen in the next five years.

At least one person was happy about the appointment, however. Ibn Kafka [8] (fr) explains his reasoning in his blog:

Here is a news that I must be the only Moroccan – apart from the family circle of the interested one – to welcome him with joy, for reasons which I already explained…

Read Ibn Kafka's blog to find out why he's the only one excited.