King of Morocco, Mohammed VI Refuses Earthquake Aid from the US & France | 10 News First

Sep 11, 2023 | King of Morocco Mohammed VI has denied aid from the U.S. and France after an earthquake southeast of Marrakesh killed more than 2,000 people and impacted roughly 300,000.

Earthquake Puts Morocco’s Elusive King in Spotlight

THE NEW YORK TIMES: The monarchy is revered and nearly all powerful in Morocco. But details about the lives and actions of the king, his family and his entourage remain mysterious and subject to speculation.

A photograph released by the Moroccan Royal Palace shows King Mohammed VI, center, during a reception in July on the occasion of the 24th anniversary of the sovereign’s accession to the throne in M’Diq, northern Morocco. | Moroccan Royal Palace, via Associated Press
When a devastating earthquake hit Morocco on Friday night, killing more than 2,900 people, King Mohammed VI was in Paris, where he spends a great deal of his time.

It took him most of a day to return to his country and make his only public statement so far — a terse communiqué. Later on Saturday, television showed him presiding over a cabinet meeting, but there was no sound.

He visited a hospital on Tuesday and donated blood. But his low visibility and silence, coupled with the government’s response to the earthquake, have been criticized, with some saying officials are paralyzed because they are awaiting authorization for action from the king.

Moroccan officials argue that they are on top of the crisis and will ask for help as they need it, adding that the king was guiding the response from the beginning.

The king, who turned 60 on Aug. 21, is the richest and most powerful person in Morocco. He is constitutionally both head of the armed forces and, controversially in Islam, of religious matters, as the Commander of the Faithful.

As head of state, he oversees a constitutional monarchy, a managed semi-democracy, with real power exercised by advisers and ministers dominated by his high-school friends. But his authorization for action is vital. » | Steven Erlanger, Reporting from Berlin | Tuesday, September 12, 2023

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Mohamed VI - the Limits of Power | DW Documentary

Mar 30, 202 | In 2019, King Mohammed VI of Morocco celebrated 20 years since his ascension to the throne. This film assesses the impact of his two decades of absolute power, while drawing a portrait of a man who has been nicknamed both "the king of the poor" and "the king of cash".

Morocco: A country of 36 million people with one of the oldest dynasties in the world and a king who holds enormous power. Mohammed VI, or "M6" as he is known in Morocco, is something of a progressive: His country is plagued by poverty, illiteracy and unrest, yet he has made social reforms, modernized the constitution and worked to transform the economy.

This documentary is a portrait of a man who was prepared all his life to become king of Morocco.

After the death of his father, Hassan II, Crown Prince Mohammed succeeded him in 1999. He was seen by many Moroccans as a beacon of hope. In the first years of his reign, he introduced a more liberal family law that gave women more rights and launched numerous infrastructure projects. When the Arab Spring reached Morocco in 2011, Mohammed VI even modernized the constitution. However, these reforms were never profoundly democratic.

This documentary provides answers to important questions about his more than 20-year reign. How does Mohammed VI see the future of his country? What progress has the kingdom made under his rule? Is he really a progressive king? Or does relinquishing some of his powers only serve to maintain his own ability to rule?

Mohammed VI, The King with Two Faces I ARTE.tv Documentary

Nov 26, 2022 | In 2019, Morocco celebrated 20 years of King Muhammad VI's reign. He's managed to impose his own style through gradual reforms. But the country is also deeply divided and unequal. Though the King wishes to reform, he must face opposing forces of tradition and common law. The challenges are numerous and the threats are significant. He must constantly walk a political tightrope to keep revolution at bay.

Available until the 28/12/2022

Macron in Morocco, High Stakes First Presidential Visit to North Africa (Parts 1 & 2)

Two French Journalists Arrested in Blackmail of Moroccan King

THE TELEGRAPH: Eric Laurent and Catherine Graciet are accused of demanding £2.2 million to keep a book about Morocco's King Mohammed VI unpublished

Two French journalists have been arrested in France for allegedly trying to blackmail Morocco's King Mohammed VI, the Paris prosecutor's office and a lawyer for the monarch have said.

The prosecutor's office said the two, Eric Laurent and Catherine Graciet, remained in detention on Friday. » | AP | Friday, August 28, 2015

Inside Story - The King and the Constitution
Morocco's King Mohammed VI promises changes as part of a "historic transition" into democracy but are people buying it?

Moroccan King Announces Constitutional Reform

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Morocco's King has unveiled sweeping constitutional reforms that reduce his powers in a bid to calm protests and avoid popular uprising inspired by events in Tunisia and Egypt.

King Mohammed VI announced draft reforms that will curb his political power and lead to greater democracy with the future head of government chosen by the people.

The new constitution, which will be put to the nation in a referendum on July 1, will serve as "a new contract between the monarchy and the people", the monarch said in a televised address Friday evening.

The 47-year old monarch pledged an independent judiciary and said the government will take over executive powers although the King will retain exclusive control over military and religious fields. » | Fiona Govan | Saturday, June 18, 2011

Prince of Wales Lays Wreath at Moroccan Tyrant's Tomb
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: The Prince of Wales risked controversy on Monday as he laid a wreath at the tomb of a tyrannical former ruler of Morocco.

The Prince and the Duchess of Cornwall arrived in Rabat amid continuing protests against the country's undemocratic regime, and paid their respects at the Mausoleum of Mohammed V, where the late king and his son Hassan II are buried.

The reign of Hassan II, who died in 1999, was marred by the deaths of hundreds of people who protested against his regime, including more than 300 people who were killed during demonstrations and 174 who died in custody.

Morocco is in the middle of a "peaceful revolution" after the present king, Mohammed VI, promised to give up his executive powers, including the right to choose the prime minister and other ministers, following widespread street protests in the past two months.

Fouad Abdelmoumni, an economist and pro-democracy campaigner, suggested the timing of the Prince's visit to Hassan II's tomb was far from ideal.

He said: "Some people would think that it's not the best time for him to do this kind of thing, and not the best place to visit."

One of the leaders of the protests, who asked not to be named, said: "Hassan's human rights record was appalling and the families of people who were killed during his rule will not be happy with Prince Charles laying a wreath at his tomb, though I don't think the wide majority of Moroccans will have strong opinions about it."

Despite concerns before the visit that the Prince and the Duchess could be confronted by protesters during their three-day stay, the only time they saw demonstrators was when they drove past a group of teachers camped outside the education ministry demanding better pay and conditions. » | Gordon Rayner, Rabat | Monday, April 04, 2011

EXAMINER.COM: Charles and Camilla arrive in Morocco, meet King Mohammad VI » | Megan Knight | Royal News Examiner | Tuesday, April 05, 2011

Related »

King of Morocco Pulls a Snit Over Visit of Spanish Royal Family
Photo of King Mohammed VI of Morocco courtesy of the BBC
BBC: Morocco's king has strongly condemned the visit by the Spanish monarch to the disputed Spanish enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla on the north Moroccan coast.

King Mohammed VI said it had hurt the feelings of the Moroccan people.

In a rare statement to cabinet, he said the unprecedented visit by King Juan Carlos was offensive and jeopardised future relations between the countries.

Morocco has long been demanding control over the two enclaves, which have been Spanish for some 400 years.

This is the first time the Spanish king has visited Ceuta and Melilla as head of state in his 32-year reign.

Morocco withdrew its ambassador from Madrid in protest. Morocco king condemns royal visit (more)

Mark Alexander