| Submit your comments on this article |
| Africa North |
| Moroccans vote on kingÂ’s new constitution |
| 2011-07-02 |
| RABAT: Moroccans were tipped to pass a referendum on a revised constitution offered by King Mohammed to placate “Arab Spring” street protesters, despite boycott calls by opponents. The new charter grants the government executive powers, but retains the king at the helm of the army, religious authorities and the judiciary and still allows him to dissolve Parliament, though not unilaterally as is the case now. That falls far short of the demands of the “February 20” protest movement, which wants a constitutional monarchy where the king’s powers would be kept in check by elected lawmakers. However, they have so far failed to attract the mass support of popular uprisings that toppled the leaders of Tunisia and Egypt. They are urging Moroccans to boycott the vote and say a low turnout would back their calls for more radical reforms. Turnout stood at 60.3 percent by 5:30 p.m. — an hour and a half before the polls closed, according to the Interior Ministry. Results are expected early Saturday. Wearing a yellow robe and a red fez, the monarch cast his vote at a polling booth set up in the headquarters of Morocco’s anti-trust authority. But while the king’s personal popularity is seen swinging many voters in favor of the reforms, the margin of victory could be eroded by resentment at wide disparity between rich and poor, and a sense of alienation from the political elite. Results of an online poll conducted by independent portal Lakome.com showed 52 percent of 51,200 participants saying they would boycott the referendum. The vast bulk of the rest said they would vote in favor, but such a low turnout would raise questions over the credibility of the exercise. |
| Posted by:Steve White |
| #1 Rooters says 70.6% turnout is projected, based on counts from 2/3rds of polling places. There'd had been predictions that less than half of the electorate would show up. |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2011-07-02 17:43 |