Driss Jettou

Driss Jettou
Prime Minister of Morocco
In office 9 October 2002 – 19 September 2007
Monarch	Mohammed VI
Preceded by	Abderrahmane Youssoufi
Succeeded by	Abbas El Fassi
Personal details
Born	May 24, 1945 (1945-05-24) El Jadida, Morocco
Political party	Independent
Religion	Sunni Islam

Driss Jettou (Arabic: إدريس جطو‎) (born May 24, 1945) was the Prime Minister of Morocco from 2002 to 2007.

Early life and education

Jettou was born in the town of El-Jadida. After secondary studies at El Khawarizmi college in Casablanca, he obtained a technical Baccalauréat in mathematics in 1964. He then joined the Faculty of Sciences of Rabat where he graduated in physics and chemistry in 1966. He also received a diploma of adjustment and management of company of Cordwainers Colleges of London in 1968.

Career

Between 1968 and 1993, Jettou occupied many managerial positions of several Moroccan companies. He then chaired the Moroccan Federation of industries of leather (FEDIC) and was a member of the General Confederation of the Companies in Morocco (CGEM) and later became the vice-president of the Moroccan association of exporters (ASMEX).

Prime minister

He was appointed Prime Minister by King Mohammed VI on October 9, 2002. His appointment was controversial as he was not then a member of any party, although he governed with a coalition that held a parliamentary majority. The Socialist Union of Forces for Progress and Istiqlal Party were the major parties of this coalition. His experience in government includes a period as finance minister of Morocco from 1997 until 1998. He was also the interior minister from 2001 until he became prime minister.

In late 2004, he successfully led Morocco into a historic free trade agreement with the USA.

Following the September 2007 parliamentary election, Mohammed VI named Istiqlal leader Abbas El Fassi as Jettou's successor as Prime Minister on 19 September 2007.