Abdellatif Ouahbi Resigns from PAM Political Bureau, Protesting El Omari’s Return

Abdellatif Ouahbi has submitted his resignation from the political bureau of the Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM) following the return of Ilyas El Omari as secretary general, reported online media.

Ouahbi had pledged, during the 22nd edition of PAM’s National Council held on October 22, to resign from the political bureau of the party if El Omari did not follow through with his resignation from the general secretariat.

El Omari announced his resignation as PAM head in early August, citing his accountability in the “failure” of development projects in the Rif region, the subject of intense public outrage over most of the past year.

The council meeting was originally supposed to endorse the decision of El Omari’s resignation, but it ended with the announcement of his intention to continue presiding over the party’s destiny, which sparked outrage from Ouahbi.

“It is not serious that you tell us that you have interacted positively with the Throne [Day] Speech by presenting your resignation and that you are retracting today,” said Ouahbi addressing to El Omari.

Ouahbi, who is also a member of parliament, confirmed his resignation “from the political bureau, not the party,” in a statement to TelQuel.

“I submitted my resignation to the president of the National Council, Fatima-Zahra Mansouri, and I am waiting for her to inform the rest of the party leaders,” he said.

The member of parliament threatened to go further and permanently leave the ranks of the party if El Omari did not keep his promise to leave the general secretariat.

According to a PAM member, El Omari expressed his objection to Ouahbi’s departure, saying that he doesn’t want an exacerbation of tension inside and outside the party.