Moroccan king appoints Othomani as new PM

Moroccan Royal Palaces Ministry revealed that King Mohamed VI hosted Saad Al Din Al Othomani to authorize him to form the new cabinet of the country. The decision comes a day after the dismissal of former Prime Minister Abdelelah Bankiran for his delay in forming the new cabinet.

According to the Royal Court, the Moroccan king was keen to appoint Bankiran two days after the electoral victory achieved by its Justice and Development Party during the recent parliamentary elections, while he failed to form the new cabinet after five months from his appointment.

"The king extolled, on several occasions, the designated prime minister to accelerate the creation of a new government," the statement said The king is expected to name another member of the Party for Justice and Development to replace Benkirane.

Othmani was foreign minister from 2012-2013 and had most recently served as the head of the PJD's parliamentary group. A psychiatrist by training and highly active on social media, Othmani is regarded as a close ally of Benkirane's. It is not clear what difference his appointment makes to the PJD's negotiating position on forming a government.

The PJD has led the government since 2011, when King Mohammed ceded some powers to ease "Arab Spring" protests. It increased its share of the vote in October elections, maintaining its position as the biggest party. But it has met with resistance during political negotiations from parties that are perceived as being close to the palace.

Under Morocco's election law no party can win an outright majority in the 395-seat parliament, making coalition governments necessary in a system where the king holds ultimate power.

The PJD won the October election, but didn't get enough seats to govern alone and has struggled to form a coalition with rival parties. The impasse has threatened to damage Morocco's reputation in the region for political stability after years of upheaval in the Arab world.

While ultimate power in Morocco rests with the king, he rarely intervenes directly in forming a government. He did so this time, the palace said, "to overcome the current situation of immobility" and "in his constant concern for consolidating democratic choice."