Morocco: King’s Speech Tweeted · Global Voices
Hisham Almiraat

This post is part of our special coverage Morocco Protests 2011.
Inspired by Tunisia and Egypt, Moroccan youth have been taking to the streets since February 20, asking for a reform of the constitution which currently provides the king with absolute powers. On Wednesday, King Mohammed VI gave his first address to the nation since the beginning of pro-democracy protests. Without referring explicitly to the protests, he promised “a comprehensive reform of the constitution” and a referendum on an “advanced regionalization,” aiming at providing regions with greater autonomy from the central authority of the government –a reform that he says would guaranty the separation of powers and strengthen the role of an elected Prime Minister and Parliament.
The speech was closely followed on Twitter under the hashtag #khitab, which translates to speech in Arabic. Here are speech minutes and first reactions:
@citizenkayen: renforcement du role de la femme #khitab
@Lamialaz: Discours du Roi Mohamed VI : Régionalisation et Constitution. #khitab
@Takhouar: Machrou3iyat tatalou3at référence au #feb20 #khitab
The king then says he was willing to engage in a process that would lead to a comprehensive reform of the constitution, based on 7 principles:
@mcherifi: #khitab RT @citizenkayen: refonte constitutionel complete: 1 identite nation auotur amazighia
@crowd42: #khitab : séparation des pouvoirs
@Hyperconnard: #khitab un nouveau gouvernement issu du parlement et 1er ministre issu uniquement du parti vainqueur
@citizenkayen: renforcer le role des partis et loposition aprlement et la soc civile #khitab
@Hyperconnard: #khitab lajnat mouraja3at dosstor.
@RedaBlog: et nous voilà, une autre commission… #khitab
@Takhouar: ASSEMBLEE CONSTITUTIONNELLE (non élue) présidée par Abdeltif Mennouni #khitab
@mounirbensalah: #khitab 1 projet de const avant juin 2011
First reactions were mostly positive:
@DrSwEeToO: hadshi ki beshar bel kheir #Khitab
@meryemefaris: Super! #khitab
@didacasa: #khitab so prouuuud !
@: 3acha lmalik #khitab du siecle
@mounirbensalah: #khitab #feb20 a gagne
@YassBerraoui: HISTORIQUE #khitab
@ManusMacManus: It sounds like the British electoral system #Maroc #Feb20 #Khitab
Some however are calling for caution:
@Hyperconnard: #khitab un discours assez vague. Des déclarations d'intention. De très belles intentions.
@Hyperconnard: #khitab le #feb20 mais aussi les soulèvements arabes ont servi a quelquechose au maroc
@abmoul: Si j'ai compris, la monarchie garde la main haute sur le processus de révision constitutionnelle. #khitab
@: le discours du Roi ne garantit rien. La vigilance est plus que jamais de mise.
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This post is part of our special coverage Morocco Protests 2011.