KING MOHAMMED VI'S SPEECH ON REGIONALIZATION

UNCLAS RABAT 000036 SIPDIS SENSITIVE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV EAID PHUM MO WI SUBJECT: KING MOHAMMED VI'S SPEECH ON REGIONALIZATION REF: RABAT 0026 ¶1. (SBU) Summary: The latest cabinet reshuffle (reftel) came a day after King Mohammed VI appointed a new Advisory Committee on Regionalization tasked with developing a strategic plan to empower regional governance across Morocco. Moroccan analysts and politicians generally welcomed the initiative to devolve power to the regions but which also has clear political implications for the Western Sahara. Should it gain momentum, the regionalization initiative would bolster the legitimacy of autonomy as a solution to the Sahara conflict, and would have other long-term positive consequences for Moroccan democracy. End Summary. -------------- Devolving Power Away from Rabat -------------- ¶2. (U) More than two years after mooting the idea, King Mohammed VI named a 21-member Advisory Committee on Regionalization (ACR) on January 3 in a bid to accelerate the devolution of government power away from Rabat -- but also to reaffirm Morocco's claim to Western Sahara. The King has given the committee six months to elaborate a plan "specific to Morocco's needs rather than an imitation of foreign models." The result, he stated, would lead towards the renovation and modernization of the country's democratic institutions. The King named Morocco's current ambassador to Spain, Omar Azziman, chairman of this 21-member committee, which includes representatives from different academic and professional backgrounds and, notably, three women. ¶3. (U) Regionalization in not a new idea, but Moroccan analysts' response to the king's newest initiative on the subject has generally been quite positive. Moroccan political scholar Mohammed Darif commented in a press interview that the king's effort "responds to [Morocco's] authentic needs as it moves further along its democratic path." He added that "Morocco is moving ahead with an initiative to give regional authorities more power to determine their own paths to development based on local conditions and not to wait all the time for a Rabat green light before launching projects, as the case is now." Others said the initiative would also encourage inter-regional coordination, and more participatory approach to government. Zineb El Adaoui and Amina Massouadi, two of the female ARC members, said in television interviews that regionalization would ultimately ensure the best use of human, economic and cultural resources. ¶4. (SBU) In a separate discussion with PolCouns and Pol LES, Member of Parliament Hamid Narjisse, who is also the president of the Marrakesh regional council, welcomed the democratic benefits regionalization would bring. He noted, however, that the level of "autonomy" that each region requires, based on local conditions, is different. For example, he said, Marrakesh already functioned well and enjoyed excellent cooperation between local and national authorities, thereby necessitating a different level of local autonomy than in Western Sahara, where very significant regionalization would be the essential factor in an eventual solution to the conflict. -------------- Regionalization -------------- ¶5. (U) These positive responses notwithstanding, questions have emerged as to what extent Moroccan citizens would be consulted or allowed to be active in this new governance scheme. The king's speech made clear that he seeks citizens' participation, but regional entities remain under the firm control of the powerful Ministry of the Interior (MOI),and changing that longstanding model will not be easy. Finances are also a critical issue. Despite the presence of elected mayors and regional council presidents, the MOI still uses palace-approved administrators, known locally as "walis" or governors, to control and administer budgets, personnel resources and development initiatives everywhere -- again, a model that will take time and serious political will to change. Morocco's political parties, too, would have to adjust their platforms and develop the technical expertise (which they do not currently have) to take on greatly enhanced administrative and budgetary responsibilities at the regional and sub-regional level. Perhaps more importantly, the parties would have to find a way to deliver services and good governance to the citizens -- a task that up to now has been left largely in the hands of the walis. Whatever happens, the new setup is designed to shift the weight of responsibility to the citizens and their representatives and would certainly revive political life in Morocco. This is by all measures a very positive step towards entrenching the democratic experience in Morocco. -------------- Autonomy in the Sahara -------------- ¶6. (SBU) In addition to the political and administrative implications of an accelerated regionalization effort, it is no secret that the King intended to bolster and make more credible Morocco's autonomy proposal for resolving the Western Sahara conflict. Analysts and politicians broadly agree that the king's speech was intended not only for Moroccan audiences, but also for Algerian leaders, the Spanish government, the Polisario in Tindouf , and pro-independence Sahrawis in Western Sahara. Abdelilah Benkiran, leader of the Islamist-oriented Party of Justice and Development (PJD),interpreted the king's words as a clear message to the Polisario and to the Government of Algeria: "We will go ahead with the autonomy plan. You are more than welcome to get on board with us." Likewise, other analysts have interpreted it as an equally clear message to domestic pro- independence activists, putting them on notice that they have six months to figure out ways to join the autonomy bandwagon -- otherwise regionalization will launch without them. -------------- Comment -------------- ¶7. (SBU) Certainly the king's plans for a root and branch shake up of the way Morocco is governed will prove significant -- if it takes hold. Moroccans, including pro-independence activists, agree that the GOM's autonomy plan for the Western Sahara is a technical impossibility unless the monarchy finds a way to begin legitimately sharing power between the capital and the regions. This is a tall order in a country that bases even its non-monarchial institutions on an ultra-centrist French-style model. The choice of the Moroccan Ambassador to Spain to lead the effort and the lack of clarity about involving the walis do not bode well. Nonetheless, this tall order now appears to have the king's backing. Should it gain momentum, the regionalization initiative would bolster the legitimacy of autonomy as a solution and would have other long-term positive consequences for Moroccan democracy. End Comment. KAPLAN