Morocco’s youth-based February 20 Movement, named after the date of its first nationwide pro-reform protests, called yesterday for protests against constitutional reforms proposed by Moroccan King Mohammed VI.
“The national coordinators [of the movement] have called for a demonstration Sunday for a truly democratic constitution and a parliamentary monarchy,” a member of the movement’s Rabat section said.
“The plan as proposed by the king yesterday [Friday] does not respond to our demands for a true separation of powers. We will protest peacefully on Sunday against this plan,” he said.
The king outlined curbs to his wide political powers in an address to the nation on Friday and pledged to build a constitutional monarchy with a democratic parliament.
The proposals will be put to a referendum on July 1, the king said. They devolve many of the king’s powers to the prime minister and parliament. The proposals come in the wake of nationwide pro-reform demonstrations that started in February, inspired by other popular uprisings sweeping the Arab world.
The 47-year-old monarch, who in 1999 took over the Arab world’s longest-serving dynasty, holds virtually all power in the North African country and he is also its top religious authority as the Commander of the Faithful.
In the future, the head of government should come “from the ranks of the political party which comes out top in parliamentary elections,” the king said in a keenly awaited televised address.
It would mean a “government emerging through direct universal suffrage,” he said.
The prime minister, now to be called the “president of the government” will have the “power to dissolve parliament,” which was hitherto the monarch’s prerogative, the king said.
The king also pledged an independent judiciary and said the proposals would “consolidate the pillars of a constitutional monarchy.”
The monarch has until now headed the council that has appointed the country’s judges.
Under the proposals, drawn up by a reform panel appointed by King Mohammed in March, the prime minister will be able to appoint government officials, including in the public administration and state enterprises, taking over an authority previously held only by the king.
The prime minister will also be able to debate general state policy with a government council at weekly meetings to be held in the absence of the king, according to the draft proposals.
Currently, only the Cabinet chaired by the monarch can decide on state policy.
Among the new competencies of the parliament would be declaring a general amnesty, also currently only the king’s domain.
The reference to the king in the Constitution as “sacred” would be replaced by the expression: “The integrity of the person of the king should not be violated.”
This is an important change because the word “sacred” has a strong religious connotation, especially in Arabic, analyst Mohamed Darif said.
“The new formula does not try to put a religious dimension to the person of the king, but rather highlights political responsibilities,” he said.
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