No to a Moroccan coalition

President of Moroccan Socialist Union of Popular Forces Driss Lachgar, told Arabstoday that there will be no alliance between the union and the ruling Justice and Development party following the decision of the Independence party to withdraw from the government headed by Abdelilah Benkirane. The Socialist Union has participated in three successive governments from 1997 to 2011, but Lachgar stressed that the different stances of the parties hinder any possible future alliance, pointing out that while “possibilities remain open, the government crisis will take time to resolve.” The Independence party’s decision to withdraw from government came as “no surprise,” to Lachgar, it was the “leaders of Justice and Development party who were surprised,” he said. The union leader said that the current strategy of the Socialist party is to partner with trade unions and human rights organisations, in order to “restore the confidence of the Moroccan people.” With regard to the internal elections Lachgar heaped praise on the Socialist party for making history. The party were the first in Morocco to elect a president by absolute majority. He had little positive to say about other parties. Abdelilah Benkirane and his ruling Justice and Development party were criticised by Lachgar for issuing laws that "fail to reassure the people." And the current government’s Minister of Justice and Freedom Mustafa Ramid also came in for criticism from the leader over the recent strikes in the justice department. "It is not halal to be paid for a day you didn’t work” he said.