Al Adala Wal Tanmiya, an opposition Islamist party urges Socialist
PM Abderrahmane El Youssoufi to reshuffle his cabinet to speed up social
and economic reform. The group says in a letter: "We call for a
reshuffle of the government through a reduction of ministerial portfolios, a choice of honest ministers and a clear economic and social
programme in line with the Islamic Sharia". (The group, which has
12 members in parliament, had refused to join Youssoufi's cabinet,
appointed by late King Hassan in Mar. 1998.) It says: "Despite our
non-participation, we supported the cabinet's policy in order to
consolidate Morocco's stability and reinforce the state of
law". The group criticises what it describes as the inflated number
of ministerial portfolios, which it says had contributed to the
cabinet's inefficiency. (The 43 portfolios are shared by a 7-party
coalition led by the Socialists in an attempt by the late monarch to
bring in radical left-wing opposition groups. Speculation has been rife in the local media that a cabinet shake-up is imminent, especially after
King Mohammed urged the government to speed up reforms in a speech in
July marking the anniversary of his enthronement.) The group says:
"Morocco has inaugurated with the Commander of the Faithful King
Mohammed a new era based on reforms and solidarity. But the clear
failure of the government to follow the king's instructions over
reforms has disappointed even its members".
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