Moroccan king proposes constitutional changes
June 18th, 2011 - 6:50 am ICT by IANSRabat, June 18 (IANS) Morocco’s King Muhammed VI Friday proposed changes to the country’s constitution, devolving the king’s powers to the prime minister and parliament, Xinhua reported.
In a speech late Friday evening on Doha-based Al-Jazeera TV, 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.
- Thousands march in Moroccan cities - Feb 21, 2011
- Five killed in Morocco unrest - Feb 21, 2011
- Morocco,UAE embassies in Syria attacked - Nov 17, 2011
- Prince Charles lays wreath on African despot's grave - Apr 05, 2011
- Qatar used Al Jazeera to suit foreign policy, claims WikiLeaks expose - Dec 06, 2010
- Dalai Lama to retire, make way for elected leader (Second Lead) - Mar 10, 2011
- Morocco to close 1,250 mosques - Aug 11, 2010
- Yemen seals Al Jazeera TV office in Sana'a - Apr 10, 2011
- Arab world simmers; Gaddafi's son warns of rivers of blood (Intro Roundup) - Feb 21, 2011
- Morocco clarifies Western Sahara raid to EU lawmakers - Nov 20, 2010
- 24 killed in Morocco bus accident - Dec 01, 2010
- FIFA vows to help al-Jazeera stop World Cup black-outs - Jun 13, 2010
- Hillary Clinton praises Al-Jazeera as "real news" - Apr 18, 2011
- Syrian president orders for new constitution - Oct 16, 2011
- Protests continue in Arab world, aircraft bomb Tripoli (Roundup) - Feb 22, 2011
Tags: al jazeera, al jazeera tv, charter, constitutional changes, democracy, democratic constitution, friday evening, government officials, key power, moroccan king, morocco, muhammed, parliament, parliamentary elections, power broker, prime minister, proposals, rabat, referendum, xinhua