Morocco launches constitutional referendum campaign

From enthusiasm to skepticism and utter disappointment, Moroccans met the king's reform plan with mixed reactions.

By Siham Ali for Magharebia in Rabat – 21/06/11

Morocco's constitutional referendum campaign got under way on Tuesday (June 21st) and will run for ten days before the decisive vote on July 1st.

Political parties will visit the kingdom's 16 provinces to convince Moroccans to vote for or against the changes announced by King Mohammed VI last Friday.

In his landmark address to the nation, the sovereign pledged to mold "a distinctively Moroccan constitutional model" with enhanced powers of the prime minister, who will become "head of the government".

He "will be appointed from the party which wins the general elections, thereby confirming that the government will result from direct universal suffrage", the sovereign announced.

Article 19, which has been a point of heated debate, will be divided into two parts. The first part concerns "the exclusive religious powers of the King, Commander of the Faithful and President of the Higher Ulema Council", whereas the second part "specifies the status of the King as head of state and the country's supreme representative", the sovereign announced.

The legal age of the king will be elevated from 16 to 18. The parliament will "have greater powers in terms of control over the government, especially as the government will be accountable only to parliament ", the king said.

The new legislative body will also represent Moroccans living overseas and "set up a special system and effective mechanisms for parliamentary opposition in order to enhance its status".

Parliamentary immunity will be restricted "to the expression of opinion only", and the High Court of Justice for cabinet members will be abolished to ensure "the principle of equality of all citizens before the law and the judiciary".

On the question of identity, the king promised to institutionalize the Tamazight language.

"The official character of the Tamazight language will be gradually implemented through an organic law, which will specify the ways and means of integrating it in teaching and in basic public sectors," the monarch said.

The reform plan drew sharply divided reactions from civil society and politicians. Thousands of critics and supporters poured into streets across the kingdom on Sunday.

The draft can only inspire pride in Moroccans as it meets the expectations of the nation while incorporating the proposals of political parties and trade unions, according to National Democratic Forces Front Secretary Thami El Khyari.

Communication Minister Khalid Naciri underlined that the king had handed over some of his powers to the government and parliament in order to meet the expectations of the public.

The February 20 Movement holds a different view, claiming the king's pledge to create a constitutional monarchy did not go far enough. The draft does not really bring about a true separation of powers and does not satisfy the demand for a parliamentary monarchy, argued group member Najib Chaouki.

Meanwhile, average citizens entertain a mixture of hope, satisfaction and fear.

"Having heard the king's speech and read the new constitution, I think it's a big improvement compared to the current one," senior executive Salwa Gandouzi told Magharebia. "But its provisions still have to be implemented. There are several laws that exist but are not enforced in practice. The separation of powers will happen when the various parties concerned are put to the test."

Source: Magharebia.
Link: http://www.magharebia.com/cocoon/awi/xhtml1/en_GB/features/awi/features/2011/06/21/feature-02.