Morocco's PAM party to form coalition government with three others

Morocco's centrist Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM), which topped last month's parliamentary election, will form a coalition government with three other parties, the four parties announced on Monday. The coalition, which includes moderate socialist parties and the nationalist Istiqlal, collectively holds 207 seats in parliament, surpassing the 198 seats required for a majority. The parties stated in a joint statement that the coalition is "marked by ideological and political proximity, united in, and committed to, a shared reformist vision." Following the September 23 vote, King Mohammed VI appointed PAM leader Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri as the country's first woman to act as head of government and tasked her with forming a cabinet. PAM, founded in 2008 by an adviser to the king, advocates for social modernization and has positioned itself as a counterweight to the Islamist Justice and Development Party. The new government will be responsible for overseeing the final stages of a $20 billion initiative to prepare for the 2030 World Cup, which Morocco will co-host with Portugal and Spain. The government will also face pressure to address youth grievances regarding jobs, education, and health services. However, the vote is not expected to alter Morocco's policy direction, as the king retains significant powers over key portfolios.