Morocco's new administration can start action on its programme after winning a key vote in Parliament.
The Moroccan government is ready to roll up its sleeves and get down to work after receiving approval from the Chamber of Representatives.
"The Moroccan public are waiting for us to act on a number of important issues, and we must meet those challenges as soon as possible," Prime Minister Abdelilah Benkirane said on Thursday (January 26th) after the vote of confidence by MPs.
The government will work calmly and rigorously to stamp out all kinds of malpractice and corruption, and to promote investment with the chief aim of creating more jobs, he told the press.
The vote of confidence is a positive signal for the move to practical action on the ground, Benkirane added.
Communications Minister and government spokesman, Mustapha El Khalfi told Magharebia that the government must now move from words to action, implement its programme and pay due attention to the comments made by the opposition.
"It is, on the whole, a vote of confidence which will kick off a process of communication and determined efforts to meet public expectations in the fields of employment, housing, health, education and stamping out malpractice," El Khalfi said.
Benkirane's government plan was passed by 218 votes to 135 with no abstentions. Parliamentarians from the opposition justified their decision, citing what they called a lack of realism in the government's plan.
"Yes, of course we are in favour of an effective fight against corruption and malpractice, but you must recognise all the same that the government's programme is more a declaration of intent and a set of slogans which would be much better translated into action," said Abdellatif Wahbi, who chairs the Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM) group.
Ahmed Zaidi, from the Socialist Union of Popular Forces (USFP), commented that while his party would support anti-corruption measures, the government programme "lacks realism, figures and action plans for how they plan to implement it".
For his part, National Rally of Independents (RNI) member Rachid Talbi Alami expressed disappointment at the "superficial" answers given by the head of the government, which he billed as "lectures", "wishes" and "simple hopes".
Nevertheless, Moroccan analysts say that Benkirane passed his first test with flying colours before heading off to Davos in Switzerland to take part in the World Economic Forum. The approval grants the new government the full legal entitlement to exercise its powers and fulfil duties, according to Article 88 of the Constitution.
Meanwhile, scores of unemployed graduates staged a sit-in outside the parliament on the day of the vote to press for jobs.
© Magharebia.com 2012
