Morocco: we are unlikely to see Egypt-style unrest

Government spokesman insists reforms already implemented in Morocco make it unlikely to witness Egypt-style protests.

Middle East Online

there seems to be far more 20 demonstrators demanding jobs near the parliament RABAT - Reforms already afoot in Morocco make it unlikely to witness the protests roiling other Arab countries, even as the government will respond to growing social demands, its spokesman said Thursday. "We don't have the impression at all of imported tensions," government spokesman Khalid Naciri said, referring to the protests washing over fellow north African countries Tunisia and Egypt. "The context is there, but Moroccans have long been used to expressing themselves and they don't need the Egyptian or Tunisian example," he said. Indeed, the number of sit-ins and demonstrations -- roughly 20 around the country daily -- is about the same as in previous years, Naciri said. Still, he said, the government was "treating the question of social demands", adding it planned to introduce legislation in parliament to create new jobs. Naciri's remarks come as demands for political reforms are mounting in Morocco, which shares the same ingredients -- unemployment, a large young population and stark economic inequalities -- that has triggered unrest elsewhere in the Arab world.