While change shakes the Arab world, inertia still reigns supreme in Morocco -The Guardian

The newspaper asks whether  it still plausible to see Morocco as an exception.Caught upinitially in the turmoil by the Arab spring, the kingdom has taken great care to promote this notionf a third way, while remaining cautiously on the sidelines of the changes rocking the Arab world.

Unlike Tunisia there is no controversy about Islamist policies. Nor has Jordanian-style popular unrest sought to oust the monarchy. On 18 November only a handful of militants gathered outside parliament to demand a cut in the royal budget, estimated at about $300m. A year after the general election that brought the Islamist Justice and Development party (PJD) to power for the first time, Morocco is still steering astable course  in the Arab world avoding large scale street demonstratons.

Moroccofaces economic challenges due to the eurozone crisis and the global recession which exacerbates divisions betwen rich and poor . There are occasional riots over the cost of living but Morocco is not alone in experiencing such tensions in times of economic downturn.  

But some Moroccans are becoming impatient over the pace of reform. The Guardian refers to 20 reforms approved in the constitution approved by the referendum.  But since last January the parliament has voted only one into law.   There has been no widespread debate about the reform programme despite a difficult economic climate, with almost 30% unemployment among young people and a quarter of the population lacking welfare coverage, however Prime Minister Benkirane'sapprovalratings remain high, the article notes.

The PJD  is keen to gain the acceptance of the electorate and the monarchy and recognises that avoiding conflict is an essential part of bringing about reform. Their plans for reforming state television were revised with the news in French reinstated without any demonstrations.The passing of the  reformof the Kafala regulations on adoption went smoothly.

A partnership is emerging where the King sets the tempo and chairs cabinet meetings.The royal council and the government which was voted into power are avoiding tension and the PJD is prepared to take time in developing the relationship and the democratic process is emerging gradually respecting royal customs and shifts in publi opinon including the hopes stirred by the Arab Spring. Although the new constitution paves the way for a separation of powers, the king still leads key areas of public life particularly foreign policy as with the successful
tour of the Gulf.The king's advisers, officially 24 in number, are visible, and talk to the media. The government is working in cooperation with them and as Minister of Communications andgovernment spokesman says "We have chosen a third way, between revolution and continuity."

The government took the tough decisions on higher prices for petrol and diesel fuel  an end to the payment of wages during industrial action by public-sector employees; compulsory tests for all unemployed graduates applying to enter the civil service. The Guardian notes the crackdown by police and some restictions on civil liberties but in the light of  the disorder,turmoil and loss of control in  Tunisia,Libya and Egypt tighter policing is not surprising. Mohamed El khalfi obeserves that part of the elite isout of phase with society. The article notes the continuing popularity of the Prime Minister Abdellah Benkirane.

The Guardian concludes  that Morocco's economic difficulties exacerbated by the crisis in the Eurozone and a dangerous widening of the rift between rich and poor, which sometimes gives rise to riots but Morocco is not alone in experiencing these tensions. A solidarity tax has been introduced, for a three-year period. Moroccans want change but  the country'sstability is themost important factor,the Minister of Higher Education, Lahcen Daoudi notes.Abdesselam Aboudrar, joint founder of Transparency Morocco and head of the Central Authority for the Prevention of Corruption notes that elimnating corruption,a key PJD election pledge, is a complex process involving changes in the informal economy, public contracts and law reform.