RABAT // Morocco's second largest political party has announced yesterday that it is withdrawing from the Islamist-led government.
The move by Istiqlal is the first time in Morocco that a party has withdrawn from a ruling coalition. It is now up to King Mohammed VI to decide whether to ask the governing Islamist party to form a new government or hold new elections.
"The party can never remain in a government that continues to pursue policies targeting the buying power of the citizens by raising prices and not listening to our demands for a cabinet reshuffle," said the Istiqlal spokesman Adil Benhamza.
According the party statement on Saturday, the prime minister, Abdelillah Benkirane, of the Islamist Justice and Development Party called the head of Istiqlal and asked him to keep his six ministers in the government for now to ensure it continues to function.
Like the rest of the region, Morocco was swept up by demonstrations in 2011 calling for greater democracy and less corruption. The king moved swiftly to defuse popular anger by amending the constitution to give elected officials greater powers and holding early elections.
The Islamists won the most seats on a platform of reform and fighting corruption - measures they have largely been unable to carry out in the past year because of fighting with coalition partners and an economic crisis brought on by Europe's downturn.
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Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
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Expo details
Expo 2020 Dubai will be the first World Expo to be held in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia
The world fair will run for six months from October 20, 2020 to April 10, 2021.
It is expected to attract 25 million visits
Some 70 per cent visitors are projected to come from outside the UAE, the largest proportion of international visitors in the 167-year history of World Expos.
More than 30,000 volunteers are required for Expo 2020
The site covers a total of 4.38 sqkm, including a 2 sqkm gated area
It is located adjacent to Al Maktoum International Airport in Dubai South
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The Brutalist
Director: Brady Corbet
Stars: Adrien Brody, Felicity Jones, Guy Pearce, Joe Alwyn
Rating: 3.5/5
The biog
DOB: 25/12/92
Marital status: Single
Education: Post-graduate diploma in UAE Diplomacy and External Affairs at the Emirates Diplomatic Academy in Abu Dhabi
Hobbies: I love fencing, I used to fence at the MK Fencing Academy but I want to start again. I also love reading and writing
Lifelong goal: My dream is to be a state minister
The specs
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Power: 240hp at 5,500rpm
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Transmission: eight-speed auto
Price: from Dh122,745
On sale: now
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million