The executive committee of the Istiqlal party announced on Monday the postponement of the extraordinary party congress, initially scheduled for Saturday, August 6. In a statement published at the end of its weekly meeting held on Saturday, the body explained that the postponement comes in order to “continue the preparations related to the material, logistical and moral preparation of the congress, as well as to make room for the maturation of the conditions and climate for holding this organizational meeting”.
The committee explains that it “continues to discuss all amendments that have generated discussion” within the party, with the aim of “reaching full consensus” and “seeking to unify views on them and this, by revising them, improving them and improving their formulation”. The objective being to “achieve amendments which receive the approval of all, provided that the date of this organizational meeting is directly fixed following having completed the consensual formulation of these amendments”, continues the same source.
In a speech delivered at the beginning of the meeting, the secretary general of the party, Nizar Baraka underlined the current national contexts and challenges, and what they require in particular to close ranks and manage the next stage within the framework of the consensus which has always distinguished the istiqlalian approach in the treatment of different points of view. He also stressed the importance of the party leadership’s commitment to the spirit of unity and harmony that has always characterized its work since the 17th congress.
The draft amendments, decided during a meeting held in Harhoura, had triggered a crisis within the party. These amendments set out, among other things, the cancellation of the membership of parliamentarians in the National Council of the party, while reducing the members of the Central Committee. Supported by the current of Ould Errachid within the party, the amendments were denounced by parliamentarians and sympathizers of the secretary general.
