Tensions flared in the run-up to today's decisive vote.
Casablanca: More than 13 million Moroccans are expected to cast their ballots on Friday (July 1st) in a referendum on constitutional amendments. About forty thousand polling stations opened across the kingdom, with another 520 at foreign sites to accommodate MREs.
For ten days, parties and civil society groups rallied for or against the changes announced by King Mohammed VI on June 17th. The proposed constitution aims to enhance the powers of the prime minister and mould "a distinctively Moroccan constitutional model".
While the youth-led February 20th Movement called for a boycott of the vote, Zaouia Boutchichia mounted a massive campaign in support of the reform plan.
The Sufi group mobilised thousands of people last week-end to take to the streets, with the biggest march held in Casablanca.
"This is all motivated by pure patriotism, to support the popular referendum which His Majesty the King has called for, and to say 'yes' to the new constitution," said Bensaoud, a member of the organising committee behind the march.
At least 200,000 people took part in the Casablanca rally last Sunday, he said. "In addition, there were many people in the various towns and cities who came to knock on the brotherhood's doors asking if they could come with us. It was our lack of resources that let us down," he said.
"Voting for the constitution is not a political activity," Sufi brotherhood official Ghazi Abdessamad told Magharebia. "It's more of a nationalist undertaking. Besides, this isn't the first time that the brotherhood has turned out to demonstrate in the streets."
"Every time it's been necessary to take a position on a national issue, the brotherhood has done so," he added. "We have a clear position, and we support the throne and the king. That's why our zaouia has called on people to vote ‘yes' on the constitution."
For their part, the February 20 Movement staged a protest against the proposed reforms, saying that the amendments do not go far enough.
"There were demonstrations in around 70 towns and cities," said Sara Soujar, a member of the movement's organising committee in Casablanca. The main point was to call for a "no" vote and speak out against those had drafted the constitution.
The protestors called for democracy, a new regime and an end to deprivation and marginalisation.
"Don't grant us our constitution" and "Down with the proposed constitution" were their slogans.
"Members of the February 20 Movement carried out a mass burning of their polling cards in Chefchaouen (a city in the north)," said group member Aziz Ait Taha. "This is to show that they are boycotting this referendum and reject the new proposed constitution."
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