- Title: MOROCCO: KING HASSAN AND PEOPLE VOTE IN REFERENDUM ON NEW CONSTITUTION.
- Date: 1st March 1972
- Summary: 1. GV Rabat street scene 0.05 2. GTV & CV Crowds gathered at street voting-point (2 shots) 0.14 3. SV Voters receive ballot papers from tent 0.19 4. SV Voter placing vote in ballot-box 0.26 5. GV EXT. Hall where voting takes place 0.29 6. GV Voters receiving ballot papers 0.34 7. SV Voter into booth 0.38 8. SV Man placing vote in box 0.48 9. SV King out of booth, places vote into box officials kiss King's hand 1.02 Initials SGM/0312 SGM/0322 Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
- Embargoed: 16th March 1972 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Rabat, Morocco
- Country: Morocco
- Reuters ID: LVAC1PZZV7AC9ITPDA02NWNPRBA
- Story Text: Morocco's five million voters, headed by King Hassan, went to the polls on Wednesday in a national referendum on a new constitution. If approved, the constitution will be Morocco's third in nine years.
A big majority of voters are expected to cast "yes" votes, as they did in the July 1970 referendum, when only 1.3 per cent voted "no". None of the major political groups have used the ten-day campaign to oppose the constitutional proposals, though some have demanded a boycott, claiming previous polls had been rigged.
Under the new constitution, the king would hand over full executive powers to the government and substantial legislative powers to parliament. Two-thirds of parliament would be elected by direct suffrage instead of one-third, as at present.
SYNOPSIS: Rabat, capital of Morocco, where thousands of Moroccans flocked to polling stations on Wednesday to vote in a nationwide referendum. The Moroccan people were voting to accept or reject constitutional changes that would transfer power from the king to the government, and give the people more say in choosing members of parliament. Observers were predicting a massive majority of "yes" votes.
When the last referendum was held two years ago, fewer than two per cent returned negative votes. Major political groups are once again calling for a boycott - they claim previous polls have been rigged - but none used the ten-day campaign period to attack the proposals for changing the constitution.
King Hassan was one of the early voters. The scheme to transfer power from the monarchy has come just eight months after the abortive military coup, when troops tried to overthrow the king.
- Copyright Holder: REUTERS
- Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2015. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
- Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
