Moroccan government holds first meeting

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Moroccan government holds first meeting

2012-01-10

The new Moroccan PM set out his promises to the people and called for restoring public confidence in government.

By Siham Ali for Magharebia in Rabat – 10/01/12

Moroccan Prime Minister Abdelilah Benkirane promises to bridge the gap between the public and the administration.

Speaking after the first meeting of the newly appointed government, Benkirane on Thursday (January 5th) called on civil servants to tackle social problems facing Moroccans.

The role of the government officials is to serve the interests of the country and not amass wealth, he said.

"I told the ministers that anyone seeking their fortune should be in business. Even a top public official will not get rich on his salary. The best he can hope for is to build a house at the end of his career, if he manages to build up some savings. Personally, I never manage to build up any savings," Benkirane told reporters with a smile.

The new government, however, started its work under the cloud of social unrest. Scores of unemployed graduates on January 4th clashed with law enforcement officers in the northern city of Taza. About twenty people were injured, according to officials.

Benkirane vowed that an inquiry would be opened to determine who was responsible, pointing out that the public's grievances were legitimate. Still, the public must abide by the law and respect public property, he noted.

The new prime minister came under fire for picking some ministers with no party affiliation. He explained that the move was driven by their skills and there was no harm in calling on their services.

He promised to play his full part in all parliamentary plenary sessions, to talk to MPs and keep up to date with his team's activities. The cabinet will focus on people's social demands and continue the main areas of work developed by Morocco over the past few years.

The tone of his speech won over many members of the public, who pin high hopes on the new government to fulfil their aspirations.

Moroccans have become used over many years to ministers who are "cold, speaking in careful tones and stonewalling, but our current head of government is still speaking spontaneously", according to bank clerk Charifa Madani. "Moroccans feel he is one of their own kind. But will he be effective on the ground and turn his words into actions? That's the real test!"

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Fahimi Talal, a student, struck a similar note. Many Moroccans believe in the current government, whose 12 ministers belong to Benkirane's party and are well-known for their earnest approach.

"Moroccans need people like them to listen to them first. But then the government needs to move on into action. We need to give them a chance and encourage them," Talal added.

Still, there are voices of scepticism. Teacher Mourad Toumaymi argued that Moroccans have the misguided impression that things have changed, whereas in reality politics are all the same.

"Is the government really the master of its own decisions?" he wondered. "That is what all Moroccans would like. But from what I've seen, only the ministers' names have changed; the practices remain the same."

This content was commissioned for Magharebia.com.