Morocco`s King Mohammed unveils constitutional reforms
Baku, June 18 (AZERTAC). The king said the measures would entrench democratic institutions and protect rights, though he confirmed that he will retain some key powers.
The reforms would give the prime minister and parliament more executive authority and make Berber an official language in Morocco, alongside Arabic.
The proposals will be put to a referendum on 1 July.
The king promised in March to introduce "comprehensive constitutional reform" after anti-government protests inspired by those elsewhere in the region.
Despite the pledge, thousands of pro-democracy protesters have continued to hold demonstrations.
That is a very swift timetable, which is bound to make the opposition think the king is trying to push through the reforms without proper discussion.
Initial response has been mixed - some welcoming the ideas, others suggesting they are purely cosmetic.
Many activists have been sceptical about the king`s promises of change, saying Morocco`s 400-year-old monarchy has a long history of enacting superficial reforms.
In his speech broadcast late on Friday on Moroccan TV, King Mohammed outlined his proposals and urged Moroccans to back them.
He said that if the reforms were approved, they would "constitute a decisive historic transition in the process of the building of the rule of law and democratic institutions, and in entrenching the principles and mechanisms of good governance".
An amended constitution would also guarantee "dignified citizenship and social justice", he said.
The independence of the judiciary and efforts to tackle corruption would be boosted, he added, and the reforms would guarantee freedom of expression and gender rights.
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