People voted!
Last Friday, Moroccans expressed their massive consent to the project of the new Constitution.
Results are unquestionable!
This plebiscite may be startling for observers who are unaware of the socio-political reality of our country, where unanimity often prevails. It can also surprise who consider the benchmarks of western polls. But those results are real! More than 98% of the 73% of Moroccans subscribed on electoral lists chose to approve the project of fundamental law.
We can probably debate during hours on the time duration of the campaign, certainly too short to explain to Moroccans the 180 articles of the Constitution. This does not put in doubt the fact that the results can be perceived as “profession of faith”. Moroccan people chose, in the current context of Arab Spring which has been shaking since 6 months our neighbors, to largely uphold the core of the Nation, at the helm: monarchy institution.
Conscious or not of the real and several progress of the new Constitution, Moroccans, and maybe for the first time of the History of the country, were massively mobilized to bolster the King’s project.
It is undeniable that the breakthrough brought by the project of Constitution is a real progress towards building a State of law, parliamentary democracy and a more inclusive definition of Moroccan Nation.
This text is both the pedestal and the expression platform of a democratic and modern society. Far from being an achievement, this new Constitution must be a real historical turning point in the institutional and political scene of our country.
The Constitution project, profoundly liberal and modernist for an Arab country, is as I already said in a previous analysis, balanced and pragmatic. It answers to claims of reforms without undermining basis of Nation. It put in highlights the power balance and defines the King’s field of intervention, regarded as “the supreme referee”, with henceforth only sovereign power as religion, defense and stability of the country.
The 1st of July referendum is thus a new departure to open another chapter of Morocco institutional life. The main challenge, during the next months is to get of the euphoria of this result and to really respond to Moroccans aspirations.
The danger will be for our leaders to consider the social movements as a closed file with this massive YES. They have to be aware of “the state of grace” and its devastating effects.
It is absolutely paramount to give life to Constitution by practices of good governance. New modalities, reflexes, rules must emerge to definitively respond to the aspiration of Moroccan people. Political parties have to benefit from this new situation by proposing genuine programs to Moroccans. The internal moult and the necessary complete transformation of their functioning rules are vital.
Political elites must be renewed and modernized, to respond to the several social expectations. The future Moroccan government will inherit a tough socio economic situation, with an alarming unemployment and public debt. Education system no longer really holds and offers very few job opportunities. In addition, insecurity in urban areas is very present, and the country will be in a difficulty with the Euro crisis. Situation with tourism also has to be revived.
Political parties will, for the first time and in a very short period, double their objectives to be adherence forces while proposing real electoral programs able to respond to the challenge of the economic situation. Without a real capacity to respond to Moroccan aspirations, particularly youth, they will miss their rendezvous with History. This last turning point essentially depends on the ability or inability of Moroccan parties to lead a real society project.
Beyond the results of next legislatives elections, the main criteria will be the participation rate which was 37% in 2007 elections. In my opinion, the confidence in parties can be regarded as the real outcome of this referendum.
Last, I regret that parties and groups opposed to the Constitution have appealed to boycott rather than vote NO. It is today impossible to quantify their weight in the political spectrum. Demonstrations in the streets are surely spectacular but to aspire to be real opposition forces, February 20th Movement and its supports must be involved the political arena. Contestation is a booster shot, a means of pressure but certainly not a project of society with political solutions answering to challenges of our country!
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Brahim Fassi Fihri
