Saadeddine Othmani served as the Prime Minister of Morocco from 2017 until 2021, navigating a complex coalition government while maintaining a career that spanned both medical psychiatry and Islamic jurisprudence. His tenure followed an unexpected appointment by King Mohammed VI, marking a transition period within the Justice and Development Party during a challenging era of Moroccan national legislative politics.
Academic and Medical Foundation
Born in 1956 in Inezgane, Othmani pursued a dual path of rigorous scientific and religious study. He earned his baccalaureate in math in 1976 before attending the Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy of Casablanca, where he completed his medical degree in 1987. Simultaneously, he attained a bachelor's degree in Islamic studies in 1983 and a master's degree in Islamic law from the Dar El-Hadith El-Hassania Institute in 1987. Between 1994 and 1997, he practiced psychiatry at the Arrazi Psychiatric Hospital in Berrechid.
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Othmani entered the House of Representatives of Morocco in 1997, holding his seat until 2007, and served again from 2007 to 2011. His administrative profile grew when he was appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs in January 2012, a post he held until October 2013. During this period, he also acted as a representative of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. Within his party, he became the head of the Justice and Development Party in 2004, later returning to the role in 2017.
The Premiership and Electoral Shift
Appointed prime minister on 17 March 2017, Othmani formed a multi-party coalition that included the National Rally of Independents, the Popular Movement, and the Constitutional Union. His administration faced significant scrutiny, particularly regarding the development program for the Rif region. In the 2021 legislative elections, the PJD saw a sharp decline, securing only 13 of 395 seats. Following the loss of his own parliamentary seat, Othmani resigned as party leader and returned to private psychiatric practice in Rabat.
Fast facts
- Born: 1956, Inezgane, Morocco
- Prime Minister of Morocco: 2017–2021
- Minister of Foreign Affairs: 2012–2013
- Medical Specialty: Psychiatry
- Languages spoken: French, Arabic, Tashelhit
- Political Party: Justice and Development Party
Questions readers ask
What was Othmani's profession before entering politics?
He was a general practitioner and a psychiatrist, having worked at the Arrazi Psychiatric Hospital in Berrechid.
What happened to the Justice and Development Party in 2021?
The party lost nearly 90% of its seats in the legislative elections, leading to Othmani's resignation as General Secretary.
Achievements
- Member of the House of Representatives of Morocco (1997–2007)
- Member of the House of Representatives of Morocco (2007–2011)
- Prime Minister of Morocco (2017–2021)
- Representative of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (2011–2012)
- Educated at Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy of Casablanca and Hassan II University of Casablanca
