Official Highlights New Development Model for Morocco's Southern Provinces in Washington

"Morocco's territorial organization and governance, which is based on advanced regionalization, is an effective way to promote local participatory democracy," Nizar Baraka affirmed at the headquarters of US prestigious Think Tank Brookings Institute in Washington.

Baraka noted that HM King Mohammed VI announced that "the first regions where this advanced regionalization would be applied is the Saharan Southern provinces of Morocco," recalling that Morocco has proposed, in 2007, an autonomy plan that was described internationally as "credible and serious."

"In 2012, His Majesty the King has called for a new development model in the framework of advanced regionalization but specific to these regions, aimed at improving people's lives independently from the outcome of the UN process," he added.

In this regard, CESE chairman said that "we believe that the advanced regionalization ius an effective way Bring decision closer to citizens by having them involved in the decision-making and by this way promote local participatory democracy."

"This model aims also to reduce disparities between regions, in access to social services, concentration of economic activity and job opportunities," Baraka added.

Highlighting the stages marking the implementation of the advanced regionalization, Baraka noted that since the local and regional elections took place last September, "we have regional councils elected at direct universal suffrage and presidents of these regional councils have executive powers in multiple areas related to the development of their regions."