Campaigning kicks off for Morocco referendum

RABAT — Campaigning for a referendum on constitutional curbs to King Mohammed VI's powers opened in Morocco on Tuesday with the main parties urging a "yes" vote in the wake of uprisings elsewhere in north Africa.As the government announced the start of the campaign and urged citizens to collect their new voters' cards, a senior minister predicted the envisioned changes would help the country back on the road to stability."This constitution is going to bring a lot of positive things to Morocco," Industry Minister Ahmed Reda Chami told AFP.In a speech to parliament last Friday, King Mohammed VI proposed to devolve some of his wide-ranging political powers to the prime minister and parliament, among other changes.The reforms are aimed at transforming the kingdom's political system into a constitutional monarchy, a key demand of the youth-based February 20 Movement named after the date of Morocco's first nationwide pro-reform protests."This new constitution is going to give more power to the prime minister. The king has given some of his powers to the prime minister, to the parliament. I believe that this is important. I think this is going to help us build a stronger democracy in the future," Chami said."We need to go back to normal as soon as possible, then we'll pick up those investments."Campaigning for the referendum will end on June 30, and the communications minister said Tuesday that all political formations would be able to speak freely to state-owned media."I confirm that all those participating in the referendum, including those who are hostile (towards it), will be able to express themselves freely," said the minister, Khalid Naciri.The country's three biggest political parties -- the Justice and Development Party, an Islamist formation; the Socialist Union of Popular Forces (USFP); and the conservative Istiqlal party -- have urged their supporters to vote "yes" to the proposed changes.Smaller opposition parties called for a boycott, while the February 20 Movement, which was inspired by other popu

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