TIME: Almanac 1995

home *** CD-ROM | disk | FTP | other *** search

/ TIME: Almanac 1995 / TIME Almanac 1995.iso / time / world / m / morocco.2a < prev next >

Wrap

Text File | 1993-04-15 | 8.9 KB | 194 lines

<text id=93CT1788> <link 90TT3477> <link 90TT0110> <title> Morocco--History </title> <history> Compact ALMANAC--CIA Factbook Northern Africa Morocco </history> <article> <source>CIA World Factbook</source> <hdr> History </hdr> <body> Morocco's strategic location has shaped its history. Beginning with the Phoenicians, many foreigners have come to this area, some to trade or settle, others as invaders sweeping the land and dominating it. Romans, Vandals, Visigoths, and Byzantine Greeks successively ruled the area. Arab forces began occupying Morocco in the seventh century A.D. bringing with them Arab civilization and Islam. Other invasions followed. The Alaouite dynasty, which has ruled Morocco since 1649, claims descent from the Prophet Muhammad. Morocco's location and resources led to early competition among European powers in Africa, beginning with successful Portuguese efforts to control the Atlantic coast in the 15th century. France showed a strong interest in Morocco as early as 1830. Following recognition by the United Kingdom in 1904 of France's "sphere of influence" in Morocco, the Algeciras Conference (1906) formalized France's "special position" and entrusted policing of Morocco to France and Spain jointly. The Treaty of Fez (1912) made Morocco a protectorate of France. By the same treaty, Spain assumed the role of protecting power over the northern and southern (Saharan) zones. The first nationalist political parties based their arguments for Moroccan independence on such World War II declarations as the Atlantic Charter (a joint statement issued by President Franklin D. Roosevelt and Prime Minister Winston Churchill that sets forth, among other things, the right of all people to choose the form of government under which they will live). A manifesto of the Istiqlal (Independence) Party in 1944 was one of the earliest public demands for independence. That party subsequently provided most of the leadership for the nationalist movement. France's exile of the highly respected Sultan Muhammad V in 1953 and his replacement by the unpopular Muhammad Ben Aarafa, whose reign was perceived as illegitimate, sparked active opposition to the French protectorate. France allowed Muhammad V to return in 1955; negotiations leading to independence began the following year. The Kingdom of Morocco recovered its political independence from France on March 2, 1956. By agreements with Spain in 1956 and 1958, control over certain Spanish-ruled areas was restored. On October 29, 1956, the signing of the Tangier Protocol politically reintegrated the former international zone. Spain, however, retained control over the small enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla in the north and the enclave of Ifni in the south. Ifni became part of Morocco in 1969. After the death of his father, Muhammad V, King Hassan II succeeded to the throne on March 3, 1961. He recognized the Royal Charter proclaimed by his father on May 8, 1958, which outlined steps toward establishing a constitutional monarchy. A constitution providing for representative government under a strong monarchy was approved by referendum on December 7, 1962. Elections were held in 1963. In June 1965, following student riots and civil unrest, the king invoked article 35 of the constitution and declared a "state of exception." He assumed all legislative and executive powers and named a new government not based on political parties. In July 1970, King Hassan submitted to referendum a new constitution providing for an even stronger monarchy. Its approval and the subsequent elections formally ended the 1965 "state of exception." An unsuccessful coup on July 10, 1971, organized by senior military officers at Skhirat, was followed by Morocco's third constitution, approved by popular referendum in early 1972. The new constitution kept King Hassan's powers intact but enlarged from one-third to two-thirds the number of directly elected parliamentary representatives. In August 1972, after a second coup attempt by Moroccan Air Force dissidents and the king's powerful Interior Minister General Oufkir, relations between the opposition and the Crown deteriorated, due to disagreement on opposition participation in elections. The king subsequently appointed a series of nonpolitical cabinets responsible only to him. Stemming from cooperation on the Sahara issue, a rapprochement between the king and the opposition began in mid-1974 and led to elections for local councils, with opposition party participation, on November 12, 1976. Parliamentary elections, deferred because of tensions with Spain and Algeria over the Sahara dispute, were held in June 1977, resulting in a two-thirds majority for the government-backed independent candidates and their allies, the Istiqlal, and the Popular Movement. A May 1980 referendum extended the parliament's 4-year term to 6 years, changed the composition of the Regency Council, and lowered the king's majority from age 18 to age 16. Crown Prince Sidi Mohammed was 17 years old at the time of the referendum. Local elections were again held in June 1983, and new parliamentary elections in 1984. A new party, the Constitutional Union, finished first in both votes. Current Political Conditions Morocco has six principal political groups and two smaller ones. The largest is the center right Constitutional Union Party (UC), which was founded in April 1983. Its president is former Prime Minister Maati Bouabid. It has 83 deputies in its parliamentary delegation. There are five UC members in the current cabinet. The National Rally of Independents (RNI), the second largest parliamentary delegation, was founded in 1977 by then Prime Minister Ahmed Osman, who continues to lead the party. Osman also is president of the Moroccan parliament. Following partial elections in April 1986, the RNI delegation in parliament totaled 62 deputies. The RNI, along with the UC, provide the government with a near-parliamentary majority in the legislature. The opposition is led by two of Morocco's traditional political parties, the Istiqlal Party (PI) and the Socialist Union of Popular Forces (USFP). The Istiqlal, Morocco's oldest political party, was founded in 1944 and helped lead the fight for independence from French and Spanish colonial domination. The party retains its strongly nationalist philosophy and also is among the most active on pan-Arab issues. There are 42 Istiqlal representatives in parliament. In May 1985, the party went into opposition when four Istiqlal Party representatives left the government. The Socialist Union of Popular Forces (USFP) has, on the other hand, been in opposition for almost all its existence. The USFP split from the original left-of-center party, the National Union of Popular Forces (UNFP), in 1974. The party is to the left of the Istiqlal, and its leaders present it as being in the tradition of the social democratic parties in Europe. Although it has only 37 representatives in parliament, it is strong in urban centers, in the union section, and among youth groups. The Berber-based Popular Movement (MP) is the third largest group in parliament, with 49 representatives. Although in opposition--it left the government in April 1985--the MP tends to vote with the government on most major issues. The party's main issue is promotion and protection of Berber culture and interests. The National Democratic Party (PND) was formed in 1981 when it broke off from the RNI. With 24 representatives in parliament, it is the smallest of the major party representations. Led by former cabinet member Arsalane El Jadidi, it is principally rural based. The Party of Progress and Socialism (PPS) is the latest label for the small Moroccan communist party. Although tolerated,the party has been officially illegal at various times since its founding in 1943, the latest from 1969 to late 1974. The party bases its main support in urban areas and among younger, disaffected elements of society. It has two seats in parliament and is led by Secretary General Ali Yata. The Organization for Democratic and Popular Action (OADP), with one deputy in parliament, is the smallest of the active political formations. While adopting strongly leftist positions on most domestic issues, it, like all the other Moroccan parties, strongly supports the defense of Morocco's sovereignty over the Western Sahara. Party Secretary General Mohammed Ben Said leads the formation. Source: U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Public Affairs, July 1989. </body> </article> </text>