AFP - An influential Moroccan political party with close ties to King Mohammed VI said Friday it is pulling out of the country's governing coalition ahead of local elections in under a fortnight.
  
The north African country's PAM party, which counts 89 seats in the 325-member chamber, said it "henceforth positions itself with the opposition," its general secretary Mohamed Sheikh Biadillah told a press conference.
  
Founded by a former senior interior ministry official seen as a friend of the king, the party blamed difficulties at the ministry in having its candidates ratified for the June 12 polls for its decision, which weakens Abbas El Fassi's executive.
  
While its backing for the coalition was qualified as "critical support," some analysts say the premier may need to secure new alliances to remain in power, although others reckon he can choose to operate as a minority government.
  
"We have to wait until after the vote," said the head of the opposition Popular Movement, Mohand Laenser.