Abbas El Fassi : Ask Biography

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Abbas El Fassi ( ; born on September 18, 1940) has served as the Prime Minister of Morocco since September 19, 2007. El Fassi, a member of the Istiqlal Party, replaced independent Driss Jettou.

El Fassi was born in Berkane, Morocco on September 18, 1940. He served as the Minister of Housing from 1977 to 1981, Minister of Handicraft and Social Affairs from 1981 to 1985, Ambassador to Tunisia and the Arab League from 1985 to 1990, Ambassador to France from 1990 to 1994, and as Minister of Employment, Professional training, Social Development and Solidarity from 2000 to 2002. He then took up the post of Minister of State in the Jettou government from 2002 to 2007. King Mohammed VI appointed El Fassi as Prime Minister on September 19, 2007 following Istiqlal's victory in the parliamentary elections on September 7.

His government was appointed by Mohammed VI on October 15, with 33 members (not including El Fassi), including seven women. Five political parties were included in this government: Istiqlal, liberal Mouvement Populaire (MP), the Socialist Union of Popular Forces (USFP), the National Rally of Independents (RNI), and the Party of Progress and Socialism (PPS).