Rabat: Moroccans have approved constitutional reforms put forward by King Mohammed VI in response to recent pro-democracy protests, preliminary results show. With almost all the ballots counted, 98.5% of people had voted in favour, Interior Minister Taib Cherkaoui said.The reforms grant executive powers to a prime minister, but the king is retained as head of the military, religious authorities and judiciary.
The concessions come after protests inspired by the so-called Arab Spring.
Popular uprisings have toppled Presidents Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali of Tunisia and Hosni Mubarak of Egypt.
The turnout in Friday’s constitutional referendum – the first under King Mohammed’s 12-year rule – was nearly 73%, officials said.
The king did not say anything as he cast his vote in the capital, Rabat, but he has described the reforms as a “decisive historic transition”. All the country’s main political parties, unions, civic groups, religious leaders and media urged Moroccans to vote in favour of the new constitution.
“I support the king, he keeps Morocco safe. It is not like Algeria and Yemen, it’s stable here,” Rachid Aboul-Hassan, a cab driver in Rabat told the media.
“There are problems here, but we are taking small steps, slowly.”
However, the youth-based February 20 Movement organised weeks of pro-reform demonstrations through websites such as Facebook and YouTube which brought thousands on to the streets. They urged their supporters to boycott the vote.
“We reject what has been offered. It still leaves a sole player in the field,” one of the movement’s co-ordinators, Najib Chawki, told the media.
Dear TNT Reader,
At The News Tribe, our mission is to bring you free, independent, and unbiased news and content that keeps you informed and empowered. We are committed to upholding the highest standards of journalism, as we understand that we are a platform for truth.
Apart from independent global news coverage, we also commit our unique focus on the Muslim world. In an age marked by the troubling rise of Islamophobia and widespread misrepresentation of Muslims in Western media, we strive to provide accurate and fair coverage.
But to continue doing so, we need your support. Even a small donation of 1$ can make a big difference. Your contribution will help us maintain the quality of our news and counteract the negative narratives that are so prevalent.
Please consider donating today to ensure we can keep delivering the news that matters. Together, we can make a positive impact on the world, and work towards a more inclusive, informed global society.
Donate Monthly Subscription Annual Subscription