Morocco's referendum on reform: Model for Arab Spring?
"I voted yes because this new constitution introduces good changes in the society, without the use of violence," said Marwan Akroum , a company manager who had just emerged from a polling station in the popular Rabat neighborhood of Yacoub Mansour. "I believe this reform is a unique model in the Muslim Arab world."
The proposed changes give more executive power to the prime minister, strengthen the judiciary, stress the importance of gender equality, and recognize Berber as a national language. Yet, critics point out, the changes fall far short of transforming Morocco into a European-style constitutional monarchy, as the opposition wanted.
"This reform is partial," says Elabadila Chbihna, one of the coordinators of the February 20 protest movement, which boycotted the referendum. "We are not at the vegetable market, negotiating prices. The king cannot propose an 80 percent democracy."
With the new constitution, King Mohammed VI – whose family has reigned for three centuries – looses his "sacred" status. Yet he remains the Amir al Mu'minin, the Commander of the Faithful, thus maintaining power over the religious establishment. He also retains control over the defense and security forces. He can still impose emergency laws. While the prime minister can appoint all ministers, the king has veto power on those appointments and all new laws need to be confirmed by him.
"The power remains concentrated in the hands of the monarch," says Othmane Baqa, member of the Conference democratique du Travail, a workers' union with the February 20 movement. He supported the boycott, he said, because the king did not take into consideration proposals submitted by the opposition.
"The reforms were imposed by the monarchy, there was not a constitutional assembly composed by members of the civil society," he said, sitting in the headquarters of the union in central Rabat.
Praise for king's 'clear commitment to democracy'King Mohammed VI announced the reforms, meant to curb the power of the 300-year-old dynasty, in an historic March 9 speech as protests were sweeping his country and the broader Arab world.
Some see the proposed reforms as opening a new chapter of the Arab Spring in which the regime, with no bullets or teargas, introduces changes itself.
The European Union said the reform initiative "signals a clear commitment to democracy." Prominent Western analysts have hailed the changes as a new beginning.
Where Is Morocco - News
Some Western observers see Morocco's referendum on constitutional reform today as forging a new path for embattled Arab leaders. It is widely expected to pass, but many protesters boycotted. Morocco's Princess Lalla Hasna casts her ballot at a voting
June 29 () - Clothing retailer Gap Inc will enter Africa this year, as part of an ongoing international push, with plans to open stores in Egypt and Morocco. The company plans to open its first Gap store in Egypt next month and the first Gap and
The spring, challenging autocracies of various hues, began in Tunisia and spread to Egypt, Bahrain, Morocco, Libya, Jordan, Syria and Yemen — and now Saudi Arabia. Spring is a beautiful word. Spring is a season that evokes a lot of new beginnings.
Speaking to reporters at the National Press Club in Washington, DC on Tuesday, Abouyoub hailed the growing peaceful political activism of the Moroccan people in the midst of the Arab Spring, and noted that the world will be watching as Morocco ushers
Despite the fact that Islam is the official religion of Morocco, the king has called himself the 'commander of the faithful' and nobody is allowed to oppose it. The king is allowed to interfere in selecting ministers, military commanders,
I m vacating with family just 3G north of NYC and people don't even where morocco is. That shows something
RT : Omg my boxing partner is in Morocco :O where am I gonna watch the fight? :'( :'( :'( « I know =(
Omg my boxing partner is in Morocco :O where am I gonna watch the fight? :'( :'( :'(
Broadcaster Andrew Collins grew up in the Abington Vale part of Northampton, where there is a pub called the Road to Morocco.
Just saw a re-run of the Morocco episode. Did you notice that there is a scene where people walk backwards? Funny editing :)Where Is Morocco - Bookshelf
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Features information about Morocco including history, geography, politics, demographics, and culture.
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Where is Morocco. Where is Morocco? Morocco is an African country and the closest to Europe. ... Its geographic diversity is amazing and who thinks that whatever ...
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