Press review: a historic Royal speech on March 9th
This week' press review is dedicated to a purely Moroccan topic, a direct consequence of a broader regional and international movement. King Muhammad the VIth has delivered on March 9th a speech which marks a shift in the institutional organization of the Kingdom of Morocco, a clear step away from the way it has been run in the past.
Following the presidential downfalls in Tunisia and Egypt, Arab countries are no longer monolithic regimes resisting change. It would nevertheless be a mistake to consider all Arab regimes as similar to one another. In fact, Morocco has followed its own path toward political change since the late 90's when King Hassan II had allowed his former political opponents to take part in government. In 2004, King Mohammad the VIth stood out among the Arab leaders by launching the “Equity and Reconciliation commission” which acknowledged the serious violations of human and political rights under the reign of his father. These moves have probably downsized the bulk of political radical opposition to the royal power. However the conclusions of the Equity and Reconciliation commission underlined the need for constitutional change that have so far not been enforced, despite wide financial compensation for the victims.
None of the Arab countries can escape the dynamic movements of the new generation, proving a high interest into political affairs, despite low party-membership. Morocco however can certainly not be considered as an exception. On February 20th, a group of young Moroccans gathered to demand a new constitution. The call was met by 37, 000 people in more than 50 cities. This national movement has encountered a wide success among the former political activists – former victims of the political repression -, but also among the young political party members - mainly leftist and islamist.
Those political movements have traditionally been the fiercest opponents to the way the constitution is balancing the different powers. Moreover, this day of protest has provoked a deep and unusual debate concerning the political system in the country ; even among those who did join the street protests of February 20th. Protests also took place on March 20th, eleven days after King Mohammad the VIth announced a wideranging constitutional reform. This again proves that mobilization for change is remaining strong.
The King's speech from March 9th is the first document of this press review. Tel Quel is known to be the most liberal Moroccan weekly- recognizing the historical dimension of the speech and describing aspirations of Moroccans to be considered as citizens. The third piece is a column published in the French daily Le Monde by Ahmed Benchemsi, founder of Tel Quel, and currently a researcher at Standford University. Benchemsi demands the King to remove the article of the constitution granting him the status of Commander of the Believers, in order for a real democratization process to take place. The last piece is an article of Jeune Afrique hebd, by Nicolas Marmié. This piece is very representative of the international standpoint on the Moroccan reform, in line with the reputation of the alawite monarchy to be a political mastermind.
King Mohammad VI's speech on March 9th has created a commission to rewrite the constitution following recommendations clearly oriented toward the independance of justice, extended political power for the Prime minister, decentralization and an enforced power of the National Commission on Human Rights. However, numerous protesters think that the King's untouched sacred status will allow the royal authorities to keep an upper hand on politics.
The press review includes the following articles (in French):
1. King Muhammad the VIth speech, March 9th, 2011
2. "From Him to us", by Karim Boukhari, Tel Quel
3. "The trone's sacredness is an impediment to Morocco's democratisation", Ahmed Benchemsi, le Monde
4. " King Muhammad the VIth and the course of History", Nicolas Marmié, Jeune Afrique hebdo
