Morocco’s opposition Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM) elected Hakim Benchamach as its new leader on Sunday to succeed Ilyas El Omari, who resigned last year. The election was held during an extraordinary session in the northwestern city of Sale near the capital Rabat. Benchamach received 439 votes from the members of the PAM’s National Council, supported by the majority of the members of the political bureau and the leaders of the Council, chaired by its Speaker Fatima Zahra Mansouri, and a number of members, who were opposed to Omari’s “unilateral decision-making” within the party. The new PAM secretary-general competed against five candidates, including Mohammed Soulouh (39 votes), Haiba Idi (35 votes), Yasser El-Yaqoubi (12 votes), Aziza Tibi (9 votes) and Hesham Al-Hadari (three votes). According to sources within the National Council, the closed session witnessed a heated debate and sharp criticism of Omari’s tenure, in addition to disagreements over the method of electing members of the political bureau and a number of other issues. “I renew my commitment to work with all the party organs in an effective manner, but on the basis of redefining the concept of responsibility,” Benchamach said after his election, stressing the importance of valuing and finding the appropriate institutional and organizational channels, based on a comprehensive and democratic vision. MP Abdullatif Wehbi told Asharq Al-Awsat that the session was held in a tense atmosphere, noting that all members have adhered to the principle of democracy and individual voting. This is “the biggest guarantee that the party will follow a new path based on democracy, voting and free choice,” he noted. Wehbi added that he was optimistic about PAM’s future under its new leadership, stressing that “criticism and sharp debate give political parties their real value and ensure their continuity.”