An update on Morocco's protests #fev20

Following up on my previous post on Morocco, here is the video made ahead of the February 20 protests for constitutitional reform (and muche else), but with subtitles this time.

The Moroccan press and most of the political parties are on full-fledged attack mode against the organizers of the 20 February movement, accusing them of either being irresponsible, extremist or actually traitorous. The narrative emerging from the inimitable Minister of Communications, Khaled Naciri (effectively the government spokesman) is that some wayward Moroccan youth are being led astray by a call from Facebook that is probably initiated by an American-Iranian-Algerian-Polisario conspiracy.

Another line the regime has taken is that it's ridiculous to want to imitate Tunisia or Egypt because Morocco has always been considerably freer. This is untrue, some regime figures have had the temerity to claim that people have been free to protest since the 1960s, which is an insult to the memory of the victims of the "years of lead." In any case, a confusion has been deliberately created that the February 20 protests are about overthrowing King Muhammad VI, which they are absolutely not about: they are largely about socio-economic grievances and the need for the reforms that the regime has pretended to undertake to actually be implemented, starting with constitutional reform to make Morocco into a genuine constitutional monarchy rather than an absolute one that disguises what it is by calling itself an "executive monarchy".

For the past two weeks, the regime propaganda machine has created an outpouring of affection from Muhammad VI. Much of it is based on genuine respect for the institution of the monarchy as well as the man himself, but it is dangerous to play with the king's image in this way. One possible backlash is that on February 20 the protestors will get attacked as traitors. Street violence can get pretty savage in Morocco — I dread to think what might happen. And that's on top of official and covert repression organized by the state. And the regime is taking steps like boosting subsidies (which begs the question — if they were not thinking of doing it before, are they only doing it now because of the threat of protests?)

I've been in touch with activists are there are reports of Youtube and other social media accounts being hacked, everyone involved is changing their passwords. Nonetheless, I am seeing organizing committees in about 10 cities thus far, mostly in the north. What's not clear right now is how things might play out in Western Sahara, where protests took place only last November (ending in a riot, partly because of the army's intervention). Since one of the main arguments used against the protestors is that they are putting Morocco's territorial integrity in danger (even though the protests have nothing to do with Western Sahara, but nevermind). This is the line being put out by anti-protest bloggers, whose motivation against the protests are utterly confounding: if these are just normal protests, and Morocco is a free country where one can express oneself, then what's the worry? Take a look for instance at Robin Des Blogs and BigBrother.ma — in the French-language Blogoma, long the most stalwart defenders of the Makhzen. For the other side, see Larbi or Vox Maroc. There are many more of course on either side, but I don't follow that many blogs myself. I am curious what my friend Ibn Kafka will say when he decides to intervene, though.

To summarize, I think these protests hint at the malaise that has taken over Morocco in the last few years in the face of the mounting political and economic micro-management from the palace (and accompanying corruption), the king's unwillingness to move away from a neo-feudal system of governance that relies on his own symbolic power combined with backdoor negotiations led by the Makhzen, as well as disgruntlement with the result of this style of management: high unemployment, inability to carry out educational reform, political disaffection, etc. The 20 February movement has strong elements from the hard left and from Adl wal Ihsan, the largest Islamist movement. These have long been the monarchy's most outspoken critics, but their ideologies often alienate others. From what I've seen so far, I'm not sure that large parts of the apolitical urban middle class youth will join in, either because of fear, brainwashing of simply discomfort with these groups. Even so, these protests could put the question of constitutional reform back on the table, and remind the regime that it cannot continue to claim to be reformists while not carrying out any fundamental reforms in the last five years.   

Update:

Here's a rap video made for the day:

Comments

[Kaysee]

I will not comment on the political agendas, on governance and whatnot. This is a debate of opinion between Moroccan citizens, pro or against demonstrations, fueled or not by the Makhzen and government, following or not Algerian of Polisarian or PartidoPopular agendas.

I would like to comment on purely economic issues:

1. On boosting subsidies policy:
Where is that money going to be sourced? At what cost? Is it going to be via a budget cut or via shelving development projects that are likely lo lead to new jobs?
I believe the subsidies way as buying social peace is wrong. People need dignity not bread. Jobs not charity. I do not believe that people that are behind these protests are carrying a real economic alternative in order to realise their ambition. This aspect cannot be overlooked, and left for the future to decide.

2. On civil servant jobs
Though having a job is a right for the Moroccan people, educated youngsters have failed to find jobs in Morocco. They have constituted an association, and have been demonstrating for civil servants jobs for a decade. Previous governments have promised them jobs in the private sector, to no avail. Recently, the government has granted 2000 civil servant jobs for these unemployed graduates, thanks to their "historical reference".
Good news?
They have ben enrolled without sitting the mandatory exam that civil servants must pass in order to be enrolled.
What kind of message does this give to graduates? This means that degrees and exams are meaningless. We still are in the "shortcut" culture, not in meritocraty. Not solving any problems (except of course for the 2000 people and their families). Lowering the standards in administration. How are those rioters going to behave with their bosses, with their hierarchy, with their clients aka the normal population?

[Issandr El Amrani]

I totally agree with you, Kaysee. This idea that unemployed graduates are entitled to govt jobs is ridiculous. What govt should do is create conditions where jobs are created. Bureaucracy is still slow in Morocco, and business too dominated by the palace. It hinders job creation. On subsidies, the important thing is that they are well targeted. Some subsidies are inevitable considering how destitute some Moroccans are. It's more of a concern that people in higher income brackets get to benefit from them too.

[samira]

@Kaysee

The economic issues are not at the center of this movement. It is only an issue in the sense that the palace has a monopoly on many sectors because of its political powers (see the Wikileaks cable). It's about democracy (a strictly symbolic monarchy, checks and balances, an independent judiciary, etc.) and freedoms (gender equality, protection of minorities, freedom of speech, etc.).

There's plenty of documents circulating that formulate these demands.

Also, I find it outrageous that you entertain the idea that we are puppets in the hands of Algeria or the Polisario.

[aziz]

Moroccans have to send a clear message to the ruling elite that they're no longer content with shows and festivals. A popular show of force that does not include Shakira and that was not organized by the court minions. Up with Feb 20th protest!
We need real efforts in developing our people in dignity and pride otherwise the myths of the "good king" and the "Moroccan exception" go out the window. All palaces should be turned into national parks as gesture of good will and seriousness. Stop the waste and the squandering on the royal lifestyle, then we will know if this monarchy is really for the poor as it claims to be...or is it just a marketing ploy?

[Kaysee]

@Issandr
On benefits, yes they are necessary. But boosting them is not a way to answer demands.
On the fact that "higher income brackets" benefit from them. I would not say that the problem is higher income brackets because they are so few. You could refuse subsidies to corporations on raw materials, but on a free market this should drive prices up. So you would want to keep it to non-essential foods that use essential foods as raw materials, making sure that these non-essential products do not get "dumped" by the imports i.e. to align fiscal policy on economic policy.

@Samira
Maybe i was not clear. Yes the impacts of Feb20 are political. I think that both sides, pro and anti march have fair points, and that in the end both sides want the good for Morocco.
I do not imply that all people marching on Sunday are puppets. If you want my opinion on that, I think that this march is going to get used by the country's foes against it, but that it is not a reason why genuine people shouldn't march.
Citizens can choose to be the soldiers of their country and mask their pain in favour of a higher agenda or choose to focus on their internal problems whatever the outside consequences are. There is no noble thing to do, because It is the duty of the government to deal with the country's external and internal problems, not the people's. I am for the 1st choice, but it is mine, and I do not judge people who choose the 2nd option. But I do not want to digress.

My point is that the 20 Feb marchers' economic demands that are focused on (i) using the country's budget to make life cheaper (ii) civil servant jobs for everyone (iii) generalised welfare for the unemployed; are not good economic policies on the long run. Everyone agrees on the "good" economic reforms that are (a) combat corruption (b) a fair society.

The problem is more in the lack of taxes on the fortunes that have been made during the last years. The problem is on the very high level of dividend distribution in the economy. The problem is in everyday's corruption. The problem is in the absence of the State's taxation in the informal economy, on the fortune (à la French ISF), on drugs...

As a conclusion, the state needs to finance the creation of jobs by a smart and bold fiscal policy: reduce the "tax on the poor" like VAT, create a tax on the fortune (not on income but on the assets), revisit the tax on imports (especially from China), create a fund to support the ailing manufactures in order to prevent them from firing people (example in the Textile sector), crack down on speculation, force Moroccan businesses and foreign business in Morocco to use a minimum "Moroccan content", tax the personal income that comes from dividends, if dividend policy is higher than a certain % of net profit ...

POST SCRIPTUM:
The march is going to happen. But what will happen after the march is the key question. Get rid of symbols can appease the people, but 1 is it really necessary and sufficient to answer the people's demands and 2 is it really going to serve the interests of the Moroccan economy as a whole on the long run?

[Said]

Issandr, thank you so much for your valuable comments. I think you have described the real issues surrounding the Feb 20th protest.

I was hoping to see more of the intellectual class and Moroccans professional taking place in the protest. This is not just about Economic opportunity including jobs and standard of leaving, it is about democracy, dignity, and social justice.
We are not less intelligent than our Spanish or British fellows who have a functional system with a well respected monarchy that reign but it does not govern.
I have expressed this thought on youtube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ag31hcFxRXM), Please feel free to read and provide your feed back.

Thank you

[Said]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D25goSkt8Rc