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His Majesty King Mohammed VI announced Wednesday, March 9, 2011 - a date that we will retain in the history of our country – that a new draft constitution will be submitted to popular referendum following a participatory and open consultation.

In this founder speech, the King has already committed to the principle of  “constitutionalization” of several  prominent measures: the Prime Minister from the winning party of the elections will see its status strengthened  as chief executive; advanced regionalization will increase the power of local officials and assign to presidents of regional councils powers delegated before to Walis , recognition of the Amazigh component of our country will reinforce the pluralism of our society, independence of the justice, separation of powers and strengthening of the Constitutional Council ones will finally consecrate the rule of law.
These constitutional reforms must open Morocco on a promising new era that respond to the aspirations of Moroccans to well-being and full citizenship. By committing to "consolidate the moralization mechanisms of public life and the need to link the exercise of authority and any responsibility or mandate to the imperatives of public control and accountability," the new Constitution is destined to become "a solid basis to build a historic compromise looked as a new deal between the Throne and the people" with a joint project to make our country a model of democracy, development and shared prosperity in the region.
Reflection on policy and institutions has rarely been so strong, dispassionate and citizen in our country, the next few weeks offer us a unique opportunity to make our institutional system more efficient and transparent.

The Moroccan exception: undeniable progress and irreversible democratization i

The strength of the democratic transition announced by the King is to be a part of a continuum process characterized by historical, cultural and political specificities of our country.
The "Arab Spring" and the Movement of 20 February had have a role in accelerating this slow, hesitant but irreversible democratization process  that we know since the advent of the new reign.
This reality should not obscure the undeniable achievements of recent years: new Moudawana, transparent elections since 2002, implementation of the Equity and Reconciliation Commission (IER), creation of the Royal Institute of Amazigh Culture (IRCAM) , high economic growth that has included the country among emerging economies, successful of large electrification programs, access to clean water and infrastructures, or the spread of the mandatory health insurance (SHI). All these developments were welcomed by international institutions. Thus, the recent report published in November 2010 by the UNDP ranked Morocco among the 10 best performers’ countries in terms of improving the human development index over the last forty years. The NGO Freedom House reference, in its 2011 “state of democracy in the world” index , ranked Morocco, Lebanon and Kuwait in the category of partially democratic countries when other countries in the MENA region still be  considered as undemocratic .
Far from me the desire to embellish the table. Democracy and development levels of our country naturally remain below our expectations and the challenges we face. However the fact to recognize the achievements of the past allows us to address Morocco of tomorrow with great serenity and without unnecessary taboos.

Significant challenges to face and an expected democracy

Morocco remains a developing country with significant burdens: persistent poverty and strong social inequality, youth heavily affected by unemployment and lack of prospects, a failing education system abandoned by the elites and even digging more inequality, illiteracy which is absorbed too slowly, a failing health care system, corruption entered into the society’s DNA, a political action lacking transparency, legitimacy and overall readability…
As highlights the UNDP 2010 report, insufficient democratic environment, absence of both rule of law and freedom, limited emancipation of civil society, women and youth are considered as main impediment to economic development in the Arab world and Morocco is not an exception. The justice reform that would pave the way for a separation of powers has long been announced so far without results. The National Initiative for Human Development (NIHD) has the merit of having given the poverty at the heart of policy debates but has so far failed business. The alternative model of society towards which we were heading is that of a cash economy where the stability of the elite does not promote a redistribution of wealth through productive investment and economic solidarity.
The "Arab spring" has the merit to put democracy and development at the heart of the citizen concerns. This revival of civic engagement,  synonymous of great hopes for change is an opportunity to complete the democratization of Morocco and to mobilize citizens around a new vision of society. A new social pact based on the values ​​of solidarity, respect for freedoms, transparency, accountability and good governance actors is the hope that underlies this new underway democracy.

Making Moroccan democratic transition a model

The coming months will be politically very intense and crowned by the adoption of a new constitution.
The democratic process must necessarily be accompanied by deep changes in society and within the political system. Several principles should mark out the reform of the Constitution:

- The King is the State representative, a symbol of its unity, Supreme Commander of Royal Armed Forces and Commander of the believers. He should retain the power to dissolve the government and parliament by declaring the emergency state and to propose the revision of the Constitution by positioning itself as a referee, guarantor of the founding principles of the Kingdom and the ultimate bulwark against the risks of abuse.

- The empowerment of the Prime Minister and the Chief Executive henceforth accountable to elected officials with a review of the roles of government council and the council of ministers. Political parties must therefore make their molting through a renewal of the elites and the establishment of strong coalitions that empower the executive with a possible return to majority voting. Forces in presence  can be structured around four main political forces (ex :  Koutla, PJD, MP,RNI)
- The recognition of fundamental freedoms of the universal declaration of human rights and full equality man - woman
- The promotion of multiculturalism by admitting the existence of four national languages ​​(Hassani, tachelhit, Tamazight and rates) in addition to the official language, Arabic, which unites us

- An independent judiciary power with independence of the Superior Council of Magistrates which must possess a power of decision and not relegated to an advisory role,

- Courageous decisions are also expected to inevitably enter our country into modernity :  to define a comprehensive economic strategy that is not just a simple juxtaposition of sectoral strategies, but aims to establish a model of inclusive growth (the examples of Malaysia or South Korea, countries which are out of poverty in recent decades thanks to the establishment of teams dedicated to monitoring reforms), reforming the compensation fund by targeting the poor through direct aid, to broaden the authority and resources of the Central Agency for the Prevention of Corruption and the Concurrency Council so they can  struggle effectively against corruption and anti-competitive practices, reform Press law in a spirit of consensus to guarantee freedom of the press, abolition of the death penalty are some measures  that taken quickly will contribute to a  deep change in our society.
In conclusion, Morocco will experience a decisive phase in its history during the weeks and months ahead. This period of democratic transition led by the Throne and the people echoed the successful adoption of the Spanish Constitution in 1978 which followed the accession of King Juan Carlos. Together, Moroccans of all stripes, united in a process of negotiation and consensus-reaching political, economic and social, we will succeed in raising Morocco as a model of democratic transition in the region.