Morocco, a kingdom on the western edge of North Africa, has been touched by the so-called Arab Spring, the surge in popular agitation that brought down dictators in Tunisia and Egypt and has challenged many others. But the calls for change sweeping the region have been muted in Morocco by a fear of chaos, a prevalent security apparatus and genuine respect for the king, Mohammed VI.
Since he took the throne in 1999 at the age of 35, the king has done much to soften the harsh and often brutal rule of his father, Hassan II. Mohammed VI is considered by many to be a reformer on the side of the poor. Demonstrators have pushed for his ministers to be replaced but have not challenged his rule. Their demands include a desire for a more legitimate democracy, with limits on the power of the king, who together with his close advisers controls most of the real power in the country.
On Feb. 20, 2011, in response to a “February 20 Movement for Change” that began on Facebook, more than 10,000 people turned out in cities across the country to call for democratic change, lower food prices, freedom for Islamist prisoners, rights for Berbers and a variety of causes, including pan-Arab nationalism.
The government had tried to blunt the movement’s impact, first by trying to demonize its young leaders as enemies of the state, and then, when that failed, announcing that the demonstration was canceled. That did not work either. Instead, traditional opposition parties that initially shunned the upstart movement jumped in, trying to ride the wave churned up by the young.
King Mohammed VI apparently got the message, and in a rare nationally televised speech announced that he intended to meet some of the group’s core demands — without ever actually acknowledging that the group existed.
In June, the king announced proposed constitutional changes that would reduce his own nearly absolute powers and create a system in which the prime minister would be the leader of the party with the most seats in Parliament.
The proposals were approved in a July 1 referendum, but two days later the February 20 Movement turned out thousands of youthful demonstrators pushing for more sweeping changes.
Under the new Constitution, the prime minister, who would be formally called “president of the government,” will be able to appoint government officials and ministers and will have the power to dissolve Parliament. The judiciary will be an independent branch; previously, the king headed a council that approved all judges.
The first parliamentary elections under the new system were held on Nov. 25, 2011. Many young Moroccans stayed home, disenchanted. But the change here may still be significant. The Islamist Justice and Development Party (PJD) was expected to do well, it could even become the country’s largest party and, in a coalition government, provide the next prime minister, who will have the power to appoint ministers and dissolve Parliament.

Source: The New York Times