Morocco’s Islamist PJD Party Postpones Key Meeting Amid Leadership Crisis

The postponement of this session was agreed upon by mutual agreement between the national council and the general secretariat of the party, said Mr. El Yazami in a press release. The session had been convened in a context marked by calls for the resignation of the party’s secretary general, Saâdeddine El Othmani, who is also head of government. He is accused of having signed the agreement to resume Moroccan-Israeli relations. This is a subject that is far from unanimous within the Islamist political formation.

In the wake of this, the former head of government and the PJD, Abdelilah Benkirane, expressed his support for Mr. El Othmani. He also tried to calm the spirits. In a video message, he called on his "supporters" to comply with the decision to normalize diplomatic relations between Morocco and Israel. He also specified that sovereignty issues fall within the prerogatives of King Mohammed VI.