DEMOCRACY IN TRANSITION: MOROCCAN YOUTH SPEAKS OUT

UNCLAS RABAT 000711 SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR NEA/MAG E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KDEM PREL MO SUBJECT: DEMOCRACY IN TRANSITION: MOROCCAN YOUTH SPEAKS OUT ¶1. (U) Summary: Educated Moroccan youths are concerned about Parliamentary dysfunction, constitutional imbalances, and corruption among elected officials. During a conference attended by young academics and opinionmakers, debate focused on problems related to the mismanagement of public resources and the need for constitutional reform and devolution of central authority. Private conversations held with students and other participants for the most part echoed the sentiments of panelists: life is becoming tougher for ordinary Moroccans while their elected officials and those with connections become richer and more powerful. End Summary. If You Have Power, You Have Everything -------------- ¶2. (U) On July 10, about 100 young researchers, academics, and journalists gathered in the northern city of Tangiers for a four-day conference to discuss the state of Morocco's social, political, economic and democratic transitions. The event was sponsored by the Center for the Study and Research in the Social Sciences, a Rabat-based academic organization founded by a group of universities, researchers, and social science practitioners to promote a better understanding of Moroccan society at the regional and international levels. Ali Karimi, a panelist from the University of Casablanca, spoke about the links between constitutional reform and its connection to the economy. He said the style of government influenced the economy, and that in Morocco, the Government needs to reassert control over the private sector. Currently, he said, private interests subvert the Government's oversight function through influence peddling and bribery. ¶3. (U) Although he did not mention specific members, Karimi spoke of those who profited from their position in Parliament. "If you have power, you have everything," he said. Karimi criticized elected officials for being out of touch with the people. He lamented that Morocco is a state where "everything is for sale," and complained of how some people were using government connections to purchase public property for below-market prices. He bemoaned the weakness and lack of credibility of the Government, which he believes has become a "slave" to the private sector. ¶4. (U) According to Karimi, democracy should be used to spur economic progress, and constitutional reform should be given priority to enable both. (Note: In the Moroccan context, "constitutional reform" is code for taking formal legal steps to limit the king's almost absolute power over the running of the nation. End Note.) ¶5. (U) One female participant, who disagreed with the need for constitutional reform, commented that too much time had been wasted on fruitless debates and fighting among political parties. She said that in order for Morocco to move forward in its democratic transition, people needed to encourage elected representatives to participate constructively within existing political space rather than discussing esoteric constitutional issues. ¶6. (U) Said Saadi, a panelist from the University of Casablanca, disagreed. "We don't debate enough in our country," he said. Saadi said the lack of political participation by the general population has contributed to the weakening of NGOs and civil society, and has hampered overall national development efforts. He questioned the credibility of the National Initiative for Human Development (INDH),an anti-poverty program touted as the king's most important social legacy. He said that a new social movement is emerging, born of the unemployed yet highly-educated and organized college graduates who hold daily protests in front of the Parliament. Youth are rebelling against globalization, he said. Good governance and reforms are needed to ease its attendant pressures and frustrations, but the Moroccan state does not have the resources to meet societal needs, he complained. Saadi added that there is a growing frustration with civil society, as it too seems unable to effectively address or ameliorate broader societal ills. ¶7. (U) Ali Bouabid, a panelist from the Abderrahim Bouabid Foundation of Rabat, said that Morocco is not a liberal country, either politically or economically. He disagreed with the concept of a state for sale. He believes that the government is interested in citizens' interests, but that it lacks the technological and material resources to realize its objectives. He bemoaned the lack of transparency in the sale of public services, and advocated a more successful process of economic liberalization, though not necessarily privatization. A Car with Two Drivers -------------- ¶8. (U) One participant described the Moroccan government as a car with two drivers: the King and the Parliament. To which one student wryly replied, "A car like that doesn't work." ¶10. (U) One married female student said that daily life is becoming harder. "The rich are becoming richer and the poor are becoming poorer. It is difficult for young people to get married, because there are not enough jobs for the men to make a living and raise a family. Those in power are only concerned about their own interests." ¶11. (U) She said that young couples find it difficult to start families because affordable housing is difficult to find. "There is much construction going on, but it only benefits the elite. What good is it for society if some people own five apartments and others have none?" Not Our Fight -------------- ¶12. (U) When asked what the United States could do strengthen the democratic process in Morocco, two students said the U.S. should not intervene. "The U.S. should let other countries find their own democracy. Morocco has yet to solidify its democratic identity," one female student said. Decentralization -------------- ¶13. (U) During a workshop on decentralization, facilitators discussed social mobilization and the growing tension in the country. One facilitator spoke of the importance of including more women in the national assembly. Many complained that the central government has been slow to devolve significant decisionmaking powers, and management functions, to local governments (away from Rabat and ultimately, the monarchy). Both the Government and King have made decentralization a centerpiece of Morocco's broader democratization strategy. ¶14. (U) During the discussion phase, one female participant said that the political parties must open and lead the debate on decentralization, the success of which rested upon political will. She said that unfortunately, the parties were weak because their internal processes remained opaque and as a result they could not garner broad support. ¶15. (U) One participant advocated for the development of a new culture in which democracy springs from the bottom (the citizens) towards the top (the elites in power). Another participant bemoaned, "The elected officials will not give away their real powers." ¶16. (SBU) Comment: The sentiments expressed at this event mirror the broader complaints we continue to hear: the Government is ineffective, and its members lack credibility. Constitutional reform is a sensitive issue among the people. There are tensions between a strong and reform-minded monarchy and the evolving parliamentary governmental system. There is a need to devolve power, but the elected and executive governmental arms are weak and riven by infighting and graft. Additionally, people are loathe to criticize the monarch (even constructively),who is still revered as both a person and as an institution, thus precluding true debate on the subject of devolution of authority. Yet, without meaningful discussion of reforms that increase transparency in political and economic processes, and give more power to national and local elected governments, frustration will continue to simmer. End Comment. ***************************************** Visit Embassy Rabat's Classified Website; http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/rabat ***************************************** Riley