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I. Communications
Radio and television programs are broadcast in several languages in Morocco, and there were 247 radio receivers and 115 television sets in use for every 1,000 inhabitants in 1997. The country has 22 daily newspapers and numerous periodicals.
J. Labor
Morocco's workforce in 1999 included 11.2 million persons. Some 4 percent of the labor force was engaged in agriculture, forestry, and fishing; another 61 percent worked in services; and 36 percent was employed in industry, including manufacturing, construction, and mining. About 20 percent of the total workforce
is organized; the leading trade unions are the Union Marocaine du Travail,
the Union Générale des Travailleurs du Maroc, and the Confédération Démocratique du Travail.
V. Government
Morocco is a hereditary monarchy, governed under a constitution promulgated in 1996. Replacing an amended 1972 constitution, the 1996 constitution is nominally more democratic.
Under the 1972 constitution, one-third of the members of parliament were indirectly elected,
and tended to support the wishes of the monarchy. This existing legislative body was reorganized
by the 1996 constitution to become entirely popularly elected. The new constitution also created
a second, indirectly elected “advisory” legislative body, however, effectively ensuring the
supremacy of the king.
A. Executive
The monarch, who, according to the constitution, must be male, is the head of state of Morocco.
He appoints the prime minister and cabinet. He also has the power to call for a reconsideration
of legislative measures and to dissolve the legislature. The monarch is commander in
chief of the country's armed forces.
B. Legislature
Under the 1996 constitution, Morocco's legislature changed from a unicameral house to a bicameral one. The new legislature consists of a 325-member Chamber of Representatives and a 270-member Chamber of Advisers. Members of the Chamber of Representatives are directly elected by universal suffrage to five-year terms. Members of the Chamber of Advisers serve nine-year terms; 60 percent are indirectly elected by local councils, and the remaining 40 percent are selected by representatives of business associations and trade unions. The Chamber of Advisers may initiate legislation on equal footing with the Chamber of Representatives, but the former has the potential decisive advantage of being able to dissolve the government with a two-thirds majority vote. The first elections of these legislative bodies were held in November and December of 1997.
C. Political Parties
Morocco has a multiparty political system. Most parties are aligned in three major groupings: The Wifaq bloc consists of pro-government rightist parties, such as the Constitutional Union (UC) and the National Rally of Independents (RNI); the Koutla bloc includes socialist opposition parties, such as the Socialist Union of Popular Forces (USFP); and a third group is made up of centrist parties. In 1997 elections for the Chamber of Representatives, Koutla won 102 seats, Wifaq won 100, and the centrist bloc won 97. The remaining seats were won by independent parties, including the first Islamist parties to gain parliamentary representation. The USFP received the most votes of any single party, and the king appointed its leader as prime minister. Centrist and pro-government parties secured an overwhelming victory in the Chamber of Advisers. In March 1998 the new prime minister formed a coalition government, the first socialist-led Moroccan government.
D. Local Government
Morocco is divided into 16 administrative regions, which are in turn subdivided into 65 provinces and prefectures. The regions are administered by regional councils, whose members are either elected by communal councils or appointed by the minister of the interior. The provinces and prefectures are subdivided into communes.
E. Judiciary
The highest tribunal in Morocco is the Supreme Court, which sits in Rabat.
The country also has 15 courts of appeal. Cases involving small sums of money are heard by local tribunals, and more important cases are initiated in regional tribunals. In addition, the country has 14 labor tribunals.
F. Health and Welfare
Health services are fairly well developed
in Morocco's cities, but health conditions in rural areas remain poor.
The government provides for social security benefits. The country had on average 1
physician for every 2,500 inhabitants and 1 hospital bed for every 1,020 inhabitants in 1997.
G. Defense
Military service of 18 months is
compulsory for males in Morocco. The army in 1999 numbered 175,000, the air force 13,500,
and the navy 10,000.
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