The European Union and French President Nicolas Sarkozy have both hailed reform proposals offered by Moroccan King Mohammed VI last Friday, according to many published reports. The draft constitution which will allow the North African country to move from a monarchy to more of a parliamentary democracy will be put to a referendum on July 1st.
The king proposed loosening his current absolute power, but said he would keep control of Morocco’s security and foreign policy, as well as matters of religion, according to BBC News Africa
The King’s plan is “a significant step (which) signals a clear commitment to democracy and respect for human rights,” said EU foreign affairs chilef Catherine Ashton and neighborhood commissioner Stefan Fuele in a joint statement yesterday.
Sarkozy also praised the proposed constitutional reforms. “The President of the Republic hails the major institutional changes announced yesterday by King Mohamed VI to the Moroccan people,” said a statement issued by the Elysee Palace.
Despite laudatory comments by neighboring leaders to the northeast, it is reported that approximately 10,000 protesters still took to the streets in Casablanca yesterday arguing that the King’s proposal doesn’t go far enough in offering real change to Moroccan citizens. Protests were also held in the cities of Rabat and Tangiers.
Rallies in Morocco have been inspired by uprisings in other North African and Middle Eastern countries. In addition to criticism of the draft constitution, high unemployment and rising poverty levels are of concern to the demonstrators.
