Moroccan king proposes constitutional changes, protestors say 'not enough'

Updated on: 19 June,2011 07:24 AM IST |
Correspondent |

Morocco's King Muhammed VI proposed changes to the country's constitution and suggested devolving the king's powers to the prime minister and parliament in a TV address

Morocco's King Muhammed VI proposed changes to the country's constitution and suggested devolving the king's powers to the prime minister and parliament in a TV address

Iau00a0a speech telecast on Doha-based Al-Jazeera TV on Friday evening, the 47-year-old king said the proposals to amend the Moroccan constitution will be put to a referendum in July, adding that he will vote "Yes" for the draft in the referendum.

The king in his speech said "democracy is our way," and vowed to "develop a new democratic constitution charter."

The changes strengthen the authority of the country's prime minister and parliament, and the prime minister would become the "president of the government", and would be able to appoint government officials, an authority previously held only by him, the king announced.

The prime minister would have the power to dissolve the parliament, he said, adding that the king would remain a key power- broker in the security, military and religious fields.

In future, the head of government should come "from the ranks of the political party which comes out top in parliamentary elections," the king said.

However the reform failed to impress youth protestorsu00a0 who said the declaration was 'not enough' and plan to hold demonstrations on Sunday for a 'truly democratic constitution,' a member of the movement's Rabat section said.

''The plan as proposed by the king yesterday does not respond to our demands for a true separation of powers.
We will protest peacefully on Sunday against this plan,'' declared protestors.

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