- Washington “follows with interest” Morocco’s openness onto Africa (John Kerry)Posted 11 years ago
- The trial of South African Paralympic champion Oscar Pistorius opened in Pretoria on Monday.Posted 11 years ago
- USA welcomes efforts of King Mohammed VI in MaliPosted 11 years ago
- Egypt’s population reaches 94 millionPosted 11 years ago
- Mugabe celebrates his 90thPosted 11 years ago
- Moroccan Monarch to Build a Perinatal Clinic in BamakoPosted 11 years ago
- King Mohammed VI handed a donation of bovine semen for the benefit of Malian breeders.Posted 11 years ago
- Moroccan King’s strategic tour to Africa: Strengthening the will of pan African Solidarity and stimulating the south-south cooperation mechanisms over the continentPosted 12 years ago
- Senior al-Qaida leader killed in AlgeriaPosted 12 years ago
- Libya: The trial of former Prime Minister al-Baghdadi AliPosted 12 years ago
Morocco’s King Responds to Demands for Democracy with Political Reform, Not Tear Gas
King Mohammed VI of Morocco has responded to demands for democracy with political reform, not tear gas and bullets, says the Wall Street Journal in its Friday release.Under the title “The Moroccan King’s Speech, An Arab leader jumps on the democracy’’, the WSJ says the news out of Morocco last weekend offers a timely glimmer of the potential upside in this tumultuous year wherein the brightest expectations of the Arab Spring have crashed with the bloody crackdowns in Libya, Syria, Yemen and Bahrain.
While transitions to democracy in Tunisia and Egypt, which deposed their dictators, are proving bumpy, the Moroccan monarch laid out, in a half hour address on Friday night, a proposal to share powers with the Prime minister. The Constitutional reform package will be put to a popular vote July 1st after several days of campaigning.
The proposed amendments would strengthen the authority of the country’s prime minister and parliament. However, the king would remain a key power-broker in the security, military and religious fields.
The blueprint provides for human rights, economic and political equality between men and women, transparent justice, freedom of speech, of the press and of religion.
Other proposed changes include allowing Moroccans to vote abroad, and making Amazigh an official language in addition to Arabic.