The Instituto de Coordenadas stresses that Morocco is increasingly present and has more weight "in the advanced world"
Morocco is increasingly present and carries more weight "in the advanced world". This is according to the Instituto de Coordenadas in an analysis published on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of Mohammed VI's coronation.
The Spanish institution also believes that the king "has comfortably resolved important challenges in the last 25 years". On the political level, for example, it considers that Mohammed VI's greatest success has been the preservation of the country's stability, as many specialists believe that the monarchy helped Morocco to avoid the popular revolutions that shook the Arab world in 2010-2012.
Unlike countries in the region such as Tunisia, Egypt and Libya, Morocco steered clear of the turmoil associated with those popular protests that sparked a major crisis in many nations.
In the midst of this situation, Mohammed VI reformed the constitution, spearheading, among other things, a reduction in the powers of the Royal Court in favour of the president as head of the executive branch. "Elected representatives also experienced an assumption of greater attributes," the analysis adds.
Nevertheless, the king continues to represent the pinnacle of the system. He is the head of the armed forces, the highest judicial authority and has the constitutional power to dissolve parliament.
"One of the essential concerns of the monarchy has been to improve institutional efficiency and change the mentality of public officials", the Instituto de Coordenadas goes on to explain, recalling that Mohammed VI "has promoted a true three-dimensional revolution in the sector that would consist of a revolution for simplification, a revolution for efficiency and a revolution for moralisation".
The Instituto de Coordenadas qualifies that the Moroccan political landscape has changed a great deal over the course of Mohammed VI's reign. "The political class that originated in the 20th century, aware of its waning influence and popularity, has faced the challenge of adapting to the new times," it notes. The main political formation that came to the fore during these years was the Islamist Justice and Development Party (PJD), a conservative grouping in the religious and political spheres and slightly reformist in the social sphere.
After the reforms sponsored by the monarchy, in the first elections after the outbreak of the Arab Spring, the PJD won, although it needed to ally with four other parties to govern. "The PJD's inexperience, its cohabitation in the government with rival parties and continuous disagreements with the Palace caused the "light" Islamist project to fail, the analysis states, highlighting that this development emphasised the authority of the king who, supported by a core of advisors chosen by himself, has acted as a moderating and stabilising axis.
On the other hand, the Instituto de Coordenadas points out that Mohammed VI has known how to "interpret the priorities of Europe, on which Morocco has always depended economically". With respect to the Old Continent, the Kingdom has positioned itself as a "gendarme of the southern borders, containing emigration", cooperating closely in anti-terrorist matters, which has served to keep an eye on jihadists of Moroccan origin. "With these two assets, and the offer of a secure investment environment, Mohammed VI has been able to manage and maximise expectations," it adds.
Moroccan ownership of the Sahara
The Moroccan monarchy has also made progress in recognising the Moroccan ownership of the Sahara, which it has combined with an 'outstretched hand towards Algeria', amid tension between the countries over disagreements on this issue.
"The defence of national unity and territorial integrity is a constant that any government cannot ignore. Nor could it be absent in Rabat. The achievements in this regard, both within the United Nations and at the African and European levels, are the result of intelligent mobilisation at all levels," notes the Instituto de Coordenadas.
The analysis describes Morocco's position on its sincere commitment to the political process, exclusively under the auspices of the United Nations, as "immovable".
"On the other hand, its principled conviction is clear regarding the only way to the desired settlement, which will only take place within the framework of full Moroccan sovereignty and within the framework of the autonomy initiative," it adds.
Challenges
Despite all the progress, Morocco continues to face a number of significant challenges on its path to development and stability. Among the most prominent are economic, social, political and environmental challenges.
As the Spanish institution points out, on the economic front, despite remarkable growth in recent decades, "Morocco continues to seek to diversify its economy, boosting sectors such as industry and tourism, although these efforts face obstacles such as international competition and the need for more developed infrastructures". "The economy is highly dependent on agriculture, which is vulnerable to climatic variations," it stresses.
Climate change presents a considerable challenge for Morocco, affecting its agriculture, water resources and biodiversity. Aware of this problem, the authorities are taking steps to promote renewable energies, such as solar and wind power, but must balance these efforts with economic growth and the demand for resources.
On the social front, the disparity between urban and rural areas is striking, with the latter suffering from poverty, lack of access to basic services such as health and education, and limited infrastructure development. This gap encourages internal migration to the cities, "which in turn puts pressure on urban services and exacerbates housing and employment problems in the cities".
On the political level, Mohammed VI has promoted important political reforms, which "will need to be pursued in order to foster continuous improvement in terms of governance and democracy, facilitating greater political participation and transparency".
Finally, improving the education system is key to Morocco's development. "Despite progress, problems persist, such as the quality of education, the lack of adequate technical and vocational training, and school dropout rates, especially in rural areas," says the Instituto de Coordenadas.
In short, Morocco faces a number of interconnected challenges that require a comprehensive and sustained approach. Solutions must take into account not only economic growth, but also social inclusion, democratic governance and environmental sustainability. "King Mohammed VI will continue to play a decisive role in the country's modernisation," concludes the analysis.