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Morocco

This article is part of the series: Politics and government of Morocco

Constitution Constitution Human rights Monarchy King Mohammed VI Makhzen Government Prime Minister Abdelillah Benkirane Parliament Parliament Assembly of Councillors Assembly of Representatives Judiciary Supreme court Divisions Administrative divisions Regions Provinces Municipalities and communes Elections Elections: 2002, 2007, 2011 Political parties Foreign policy Foreign relations Western Sahara conflict

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Politics of Morocco take place in a framework of a parliamentary constitutional monarchy, whereby the Prime Minister of Morocco is the head of government, and of a multi-party system. Executive power is exercised by the government. Legislative power is vested in both the government and the two chambers of parliament, the Assembly of Representatives of Morocco and the Assembly of Councillors. The Moroccan Constitution provides for a monarchy with a Parliament and an independent judiciary.

On June 17,2011 King Mohamed VI announced a series of reforms that would transform Morocco into a constitutional monarchy.^[1][2]

Executive branch[link]

The constitution grants the king extensive powers; he is both the secular political leader and the "Commander of the Faithful" as a direct descendant of the Prophet Mohammed. He presides over the Council of Ministers; appoints the Prime Minister following legislative elections, and on recommendations from the latter, appoints the members of the government. While the constitution theoretically allows the king to terminate the tenure of any minister, and after consultation with the heads of the higher and lower Assemblies, to dissolve the Parliament, suspend the constitution, call for new elections, or rule by decree, the only time this happened was in 1965. The King is formally the chief of the military. Upon the death of his father Mohammed V, King Hassan II succeeded to the throne in 1961. He ruled Morocco for the next 38 years, until he died in 1999. His son, King Mohammed VI, assumed the throne in July 1999.

Following the March 1998 elections, a coalition government headed by opposition socialist leader Abderrahmane Youssoufi and composed largely of ministers drawn from opposition parties, was formed. Prime Minister Youssoufi's government is the first government drawn primarily from opposition parties in decades, and also represents the first opportunity for a coalition of socialist, left-of-center, and nationalist parties to be included in the government until October 2002. It was also the first time in the modern political history of the Arab world that the opposition assumed power following an election. The current government is headed by Abdelillah Benkirane.

Legislative branch[link]

The legislature's building, in Rabat.

Since the constitutional reform of 1996, the bicameral legislature consists of two chambers. The Assembly of Representatives of Morocco (Majlis al-Nuwab/Assemblée des Répresentants) has 325 members elected for a five year term, 295 elected in multi-seat constituencies and 30 in national lists consisting only of women. The Assembly of Councillors (Majlis al-Mustasharin) has 270 members, elected for a nine year term, elected by local councils (162 seats), professional chambers (91 seats) and wage-earners (27 seats). The Parliament's powers, though limited, were expanded under the 1992 and 1996 constitutional revisions and include budgetary matters, approving bills, questioning ministers, and establishing ad hoc commissions of inquiry to investigate the government's actions. The lower chamber of Parliament may dissolve the government through a vote of no confidence.

Political parties and elections[link]

On November 26, 2011 initial results of parliamentary elections were released. The moderate Islamist party, the Justice and Development Party (PJD), was projected to win the largest number of seats. However, the electoral rules were structured such that no political party could ever win more than 20 percent of the seats in the parliament.^[3] The full results of the previous election appear as follows:

	Party	Votes	Votes %	Total seats	Seats %	Seat change	Const. seats	List seats
	Justice and Development Party (PJD)	1,080,914	22.8	107	27.1	61	83	24
	Istiqlal Party	562,720	11.9	60	15.2	8	47	13
	National Rally of Independents (RNI)	537,552	11.3	52	13.2	13	40	12
	Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM)	524,386	11.1	47	11.9	47	35	12
	Socialist Union of Popular Forces (USFP)	408,108	8.6	39	9.9	1	30	9
	Popular Movement (MP)	354,468	7.5	32	8.1	9	24	8
	Constitutional Union (UC)	275,137	5.8	23	5.8	4	17	6
	Party of Progress and Socialism (PPS)	269,336	5.7	18	4.6	1	12	6
	Labour party (PT)	107,399	2.3	4	1	1	4	0
	Environment and Development Party (PED)	109,335	2.3	2	0.5	3	2	0
	Democratic and Social Movement (MDS)	81,324	1.7	2	0.5	7	2	0
	Party of Renewal and Equity	X	X	2	0.5	2	2	0
	Democratic Oath Party (SD)	X	X	2	0.5	2	2	0
	Front of Democratic Forces	135,161	2.8	1	0.3	8	1	0
	Green Left Party	33,841	0.7	1	0.3	1	1	0
	Action Party (PA)	14,916	0.3	1	0.3	1	1	0
	Union and Democracy Party (PUD)	X	X	1	0.3	1	1	0
	Party of Liberty and Social Justice (PLJS)	X	X	1	0.3	1	1	0
	Socialist Party (PS)	X	X	0	0	2	0	0
	Moroccan Union for Democracy (UMD)	X	X	0	0	2	0	0
	Citizens' Forces (PFC)	X	X	0	0	1	0	0
	Party of Renaissance and Virtue (PRV)	X	X	0	0	1	0	0
	National Congress Party (PCNI)	X	X	0	0	6	0	0
	Moroccan Liberal Party (PLM)	X	X	0	0		0	0
	Social Centre Party (PCS)	X	X	0	0		0	0
	Reform and Development Party (PRD)	X	X	0	0		0	0
	National Democratic Party	X	X	0	0		0	0
	Party of Hope (PE)	X	X	0	0		0	0
	Democratic Society Party (PSD)	X	X	0	0		0	0
	Democratic Independence Party (PDI)	X	X	0	0		0	0
	Independents	X	X	0	0	5	0	0
	Total valid votes	4,745,453	77.7	395	100%	70	305	90
	Invalid votes	1,361,511	22.3	—	—	—	—	—
	Total votes cast (turnout 45.4%)	6,106,964	100.0	—	—	—	—	—

Source: Moroccan government.^[4][5]

Judicial branch[link]

The highest court in the judicial structure is the Supreme Court, whose judges are appointed by the King. The Youssoufi government continued to implement a reform program to develop greater judicial independence and impartiality. Morocco is divided into 16 administrative regions; the regions are administered by the Walis and governors appointed by the King.

Administrative divisions[link]

As part of a 1997 decentralization/regionalization law passed by the legislature 16 new regions (provided below) were created. It is the primary administrative division of Morocco : Chaouia-Ourdigha, Doukkala-Abda, Fes-Boulmane, Gharb-Chrarda-Beni Hssen, Greater Casablanca, Guelmim-Es Smara, Laayoune-Boujdour-Sakia El Hamra, Marrakech-Tensift-El Haouz, Meknes-Tafilalet, Oriental, Oued Eddahab-Lagouira, Rabat-Sale-Zemmour-Zaer, Souss-Massa-Draa, Tadla-Azilal, Tangier-Tetouan, Taza-Al Hoceima-Taounate

Morocco is divided also into 37 provinces and 2 wilayas*: Agadir, Al Hoceima, Azilal, Beni Mellal, Ben Slimane, Boulemane, Casablanca*, Chaouen, El Jadida, El Kelaa des Sraghna, Er Rachidia, Essaouira, Fes, Figuig, Guelmim, Ifrane, Kenitra, Khemisset, Khenifra, Khouribga, Laayoune, Larache, Marrakech, Meknes, Nador, Ouarzazate, Oujda, Rabat-Sale*, Safi, Settat, Sidi Kacem, Tangier, Tan-Tan, Taounate, Taroudannt, Tata, Taza, Tetouan, Tiznit; three additional provinces of Ad Dakhla (Oued Eddahab), Boujdour, and Es Smara as well as parts of Tan-Tan and Laayoune fall within Moroccan-claimed Western Sahara

International organization affiliations[link]

ABEDA, ACCT (associate), AfDB, AFESD, AL, AMF, AMU, EBRD, ECA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO (pending member), ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, NAM, OAS (observer), OIC, OPCW, OSCE (partner), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

References[link]

External links[link]

• Government at the official portal of Morocco
• Morocco list at the CIA Chiefs of State and Cabinet Members, March 17, 2011
• Morocco Government at the Open Directory Project

Amber Lyon
Born	Denver, Colorado
Nationality	American
Occupation	Journalist, Filmmaker, Photographer

Amber Lyon is an American investigative journalist and photographer. She is known for her work reporting human rights abuses against pro-democracy protesters in Bahrain and police brutality against protesters in the United States.

Early life and education[link]

Amber Lyon was born in Denver, Colorado and grew up in St. Louis, Missouri. She attended the University of Missouri School of Journalism, earning a Bachelors degree in Broadcast Journalism.^[1]

Career[link]

Following her graduation from the University of Missouri, Lyon began reporting for KVOA in Tucson, Arizona. In October 2006, Lyon won a regional Emmy award, from the Rocky Mountain Southwest Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, for a late-breaking feature news item called "Fantasy". She shared the Emmy with KVOA chief photographer Paul Hanke.^[2][3][4] In October 2007 she received her second regional Rocky Mountain Southwest Chapter Emmy for "best on-camera talent reporter – general assignment".^[5] One month later, Lyon left KVOA to take Spanish-language immersion classes in Costa Rica and Guatemala.^[6][7] In October 2008, Lyon again won the Rocky Mountain Emmy Award for best on-camera talent.^[8] In June 2010, she began working for CNN, where she investigated sex trafficking, the Gulf oil spill, and the hacking collective known as Anonymous. Her investigations have focused on cultural, social, and government demonstrations and revolutions; human rights violations; sex trafficking; and environmental issues.

2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill[link]

In July 2010, Lyon was the first journalist to scuba dive under the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, while broadcasting live on television. Her report, presented on CNN, revealed how BP's use of dispersants was sinking the oil into the water column, turning it into what she called "hidden oil", that could not be cleaned up or skimmed out of the water.^[9] Lyon and dive partner Philippe Cousteau found beads of broken down oil floating ten feet into the water column and questioned why BP would sink the oil, if that meant the oil would be impossible to clean up.^[10][11] Lyon's investigative reports from the Gulf of Mexico contributed to CNN winning a Peabody Award for oil spill coverage.^[12]

2010 Craigslist sex trafficking[link]

In 2010, Lyon investigated the sex trafficking of US minors on the online classified site Craigslist. Attorneys General from 17 states sent a letter to the online classified site demanding the closure of the adult services section, citing portions of Lyon's investigation in the letter.^[13] As a result, Craigslist closed down the section worldwide.^[14] Lyon also won a Gracie Award for women in media for the story.^[15]

2011 Arab Spring[link]

In 2011, CNN sent a four-person investigative film crew to Bahrain to examine the use of social media and Internet technology in facilitating the Arab Spring, or revolution, in Egypt, Tunisia, and Bahrain.^[16] The resulting work was entitled iRevolution: Online Warriors of the Arab Spring, featured Lyon as the on-air correspondent. The documentary was honored with a 2012 New York Festivals International Television and Film Gold World Medal Award.^[17][18] Lyon and her segment producer, Taryn Fixel, were recognized as finalists for the 2011 Livingston Award for Young Journalists for their work on the documentary.^[17]

Prior to arriving in Bahrain, the CNN film crew had made arrangements for support and assistance from locals for the planned eight days that they were in the country. Interviews were scheduled with various individuals, who planned on participating in the documentary and speaking about the ongoing civil unrest and desire for governmental change in the region. While preparing for the interviews, following their arrival in the country, the CNN crew discovered that the majority of their contacts had gone into hiding or outright refused to participate, due to fears of retaliation from the governing regime. Actual acts of retaliation for those that participated included criminal charges, loss of employment, and destruction of family homes through fire.^[17]

The Bahraini individuals that were interviewed include doctors, patients, and civilians, who showed Lyon how they were tortured during an intense crackdown on protests, as well as after Bahraini Security forces took over the country's main hospital.^[19][20] Lyon also investigated and reported on Bahrain's systematic use of tear gas as a crowd-control device. She reported that while the tear gas was approved by the United Nations as a peace-keeping measure, the use resulted in the suffocation of protesters. In interviews following the reports, Lyon stated that she fears that the daily and nightly tear gassing will have long-term health effects on Bahrain's people.^[21]

After evading their government minders and covertly entering villages to document human rights abuses in Bahrain, the film crew experienced direct retaliation when they were detained at gunpoint with machine guns. According to Lyon, while the CNN team was detained, Bahraini security forces attempted to confiscate and destroy all of the processed film, however, Lyon and her producer were able to conceal vital video footage, which was used to create the documentary.^[22]

The documentary iRevolution was produced by CNN and was aired by CNN US though never aired in full on CNN international.^[23][17] Lyon worked with journalist Glenn Greenwald to investigate and present their findings and summation that the government of Bahrain, as well as other governments throughout the world, are paying CNN for special content casting their countries in a positive light.^[17][24] While CNN International denies Lyon's claims of censorship or any wrongdoing, they confirmed that they receive payment from the Bahrain Economic Development Board for advertising.^[25] The response of CNN International was criticized and dismissed by both Lyon and Greenwald for failing to address the crux of their claim.^[26][27]

2012 Anaheim police shooting and protests[link]

Lyon also reported on the aftermath of the July 21, 2012, shooting of Manuel Diaz in Anaheim, California, by local police officers responding to a neighborhood watch call. When the officers arrived and approached the group, the three men started to flee the scene. During the chase, the unarmed Diaz was fatally shot by one of the officers.^[28][29]

In response to the protests and rioting following the shooting of Diaz, the Anaheim Police Department brought out riot gear in attempts to control the crowds.^[30][31][32] While attempting to report on the shooting, along with citywide protests, Lyon and colleague Tim Pool were fired upon by members of the Anaheim Police Department. The incident was captured on video, due to live filming at the time. Lyon reported that she had to hide between two trucks for several minutes to avoid being hit.^[33]

Honors and awards[link]

• 2006 – Emmy Award, Rocky Mountain Southwest Chapter: feature news report within 24 hours
• 2007 – Emmy Award, Rocky Mountain Southwest Chapter: best on-camera talent
• 2008 – Emmy Award, Rocky Mountain Southwest Chapter: best on-camera talent

References[link]