New Moroccan premier may fail to set the agenda

Significance

Morocco’s new coalition government is struggling to address the unrest. The new coalition is unwieldy: it has 39 ministerial posts and includes six political parties. The make-up of the coalition dilutes the influence of the Justice and Development Party (PJD), which won the most seats in the October 2016 election, and reaffirms the National Rally of Independents (RNI) as the palace favourite, even though the party lost 15 parliamentary seats.

Impacts

• Large protests will distract the new government from promoting its economic reforms.
• Demonstrations could become a political liability for the new prime minister.
• The palace will face less resistance from the PJD than previously in setting policy on a range of issues.