Moroccans have given a resounding “yes” vote to a new constitution proposed by King Mohammed VI, who offered reforms in a bid to quiet protests inspired by pro-democracy uprisings in the Arab world.
More than 98 percent of voters backed a new constitution put forward in a referendum Friday, Interior Minister Taib Cherkaoui announced on state television just after midnight.
Voter turnout was 72.65 percent, he added. Faced with demonstrations modelled on those that ousted long-serving leaders in Tunisia and Egypt, Mohammed VI announced the referendum last month to devolve some of his powers to the prime minister and parliament, saying the reform would “consolidate the pillars of a constitutional monarchy.”
Critics denounced the result and the youth-based February 20 Movement, which organised the weeks of pro-reform protests, announced it would hold another demonstration on Sunday. “The movement will demonstrate peacefully on Sunday to protest against this ridiculous result,” Najib Chaouki, one of the movement’s leaders, told AFP.
