Morocco’s King Mohammed VI has appointed Saad Eddine Othman as the country’s new Prime minister in an effort to end a political deadlock that left the North African country without a government for five months.

The King appointed the new Head of Government in conformity with the constitution, and tasked him with forming the new government, a statement by the ministry of the Royal Household, Protocol and Chancellery announced, according to Morocco World News.

Saad Eddine El Othmani, a member of the Islamist Justice and Development Party (PJD), will replace Abdelilah Benkirane as prime minister with another member of the PJD in an effort to break a five-month post-election deadlock.

Othmani was foreign minister from 2011-2013 and had since served as the head of the PJD’s parliamentary group.

According to AFP, PJD party failed after last October’s polls to form a government despite five months of intense negotiations; the longest time Morocco has been without a government in its recent history. The palace announced on Thursday that the king had decided to appoint another PJD member to lead the government “within the shortest possible time”.