Moroccans approve new constitution

Morocco's King Mohammed VI

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/187126.html

Moroccans have approved a new constitution that curbs the powers of King Mohammed VI, the interior minister has announced.

Moroccan Interior Minister Taib Cherkaoui said the referendum on a new constitution was approved by 98 percent of voters and the turnout was 72.65 percent at the 94 percent of the polling stations reporting so far, AFP reported on Saturday.

"The referendum went ahead in a normal atmosphere, and showed the degree of interaction between the people and the content of the constitutional project," Cherkaoui said.

Thirty percent of voters were under the age of 35, according to the Moroccan interior minister.

The constitutional referendum was the first under King Mohammed's 12-year rule.

The new constitution grants executive powers to a prime minister. However, the king remains the head of the military, religious authorities, and judiciary.

King Mohammed has described the reforms as a “decisive historic transition.”