By Youssef Lahlou, Silk Invest’s Morocco based investment analyst.
On July 1st, Moroccans voted on a new constitution that proposed important changes to the way the country is governed, it transformed the kingdom’s political system into a constitutional monarchy.
Final poll results showed that 98.5% of voters approved the text, with turnout at 73%; one of the highest turnout rates in Morocco’s history!
The result was a major blow for the “February 20th movement” whose members were asking the masses to boycott the referendum saying that the proposed constitutional changes didn’t meet their demands. It would seem that the movement will now have to take a back seat as most Moroccans have grown tired of the weekly protests; which have paralysed many businesses and hurt an already shaky tourism sector that was already deeply affected by the Marrakech bombings last April.
The new constitution stipulates that:
The King will remain the supreme commander of the army, the highest religious authority in the country and nominate ambassadors and diplomats. However, he will hand over many of his powers to the prime minister and parliament.
The “Amazighy” (Berber) language will become the second official language of the Kingdom, alongside Arabic. Very important for the native Moroccans that have been asking for this for what seems an eternity.
Going forward, the “Prime Minister” is to be promoted to “Head of Government” and of the executive branch. He will be appointed from the party which wins the general elections, thereby confirming that the government will result from direct universal suffrage. The Constitution will also empower the Head of Government to propose and dismiss cabinet members, steer and coordinate government actions, and to supervise public services. However, the selection of the powerful regional governors will remain the King’s responsibility.
The parliament will be allowed to launch investigations into officials with the support of just one-fifth of its members or to begin a censure motion against a minister with the backing of a third, rather than needing the unanimous approval demanded by the old constitution.
The judiciary, which most people think is corrupt, would be governed by a supreme council composed of judges and the head of the national human rights council. The justice minister would not be on the council.
This new constitution is a huge step towards the democratization of Morocco, even though it still keeps many powers in the hands of the King. This may be a good compromise towards further transition as it would allow for a strong party to emerge that would be able to rule the country as is the case in Turkey with the AKP party.
Comments on this entry are closed.