New Moroccan PM revives hope:

Mideast

Mohammed VI

Haftar

Morocco’s new prime minister is determined to succeed where his predecessor failed, and swiftly began negotiations this week with rivals to build a government and end a crisis threatening the economy and Morocco’s reputation for stability.

The nomination of Saadeddine El Othmani as prime minister, after a surprise political intervention by Moroccan King Mohammed VI, has revived hopes for a solution to five months of political deadlock.

Othmani has already shown a different style from predecessor Abdelilah Benkirane, who struggled to build a coalition government after the moderate Islamist party PJD won parliamentary elections in October. Benkirane refused to talk to some rivals and alienated others, and the king ousted him last week and appointed Othmani instead.

Othmani, 61, the No. 2 in the Party for Justice and Development, told The Associated Press he would meet “all the political parties represented in parliament, and decide on alliances” based on those meetings.

The political deadlock has meant Morocco, a close ally with the US and Europe in the fight against terrorism, hasn’t approved a 2017 budget. It has also caused unusual political uncertainty in a country known for political stability after Arab Spring uprisings around the region. (AP)