His Majesty King Mohammed VI, accompanied by His Royal Highness Crown Prince Moulay El Hassan and His Royal Highness Prince Moulay Rachid, delivered on Friday, October 13, a speech before the Parliament on the occasion of the opening of the first session of the third legislative year of the eleventh Legislature.
Here follows a translation of the Royal Speech:
“Praise be to Allah,
May peace and blessings be upon the Prophet, His Kith, and Kin,
Honorable Members of Parliament,
By the will of Allah the Almighty, a tragic earthquake struck our country, leaving behind thousands martyred and many injured, for whom we wish recovery.
The ordeal was terrible and the pain immeasurable. From Tangiers to Lagouira, from the East to the West of our country, all of us, King and people, were deeply bruised. Indeed, Allah has stated in his Holy Book: “Nothing will befall us except what Allah has decreed for us” (Surah Taubah: 51). True is the word of Allah.
We appeal to the Most High not to let the earth tremble again beneath the feet of His helpless people, who humbly implore His infinite mercy.
While every earthquake inevitably brings its own share of destruction, we are driven by the firm resolve to work to rebuild.
We therefore emphasize the need to continue providing assistance to the affected families, speed up rehabilitation and reconstruction in the affected areas, and make sure basic services are available.
Notwithstanding the scale of the disaster, grief and sorrow have been overcome by comfort and pride at the sincerity and spontaneity through which all Moroccans in the country and abroad, as well as civil society actors, have demonstrated in a thousand ways the spirit of mutual aid and solidarity that drives them towards their affected Moroccans.
We also commend the Royal Armed Forces, the various security forces, government departments, and the Territorial Administration for their sacrifices in bringing relief and assistance to the people of the affected areas.
We would also like to take this opportunity to reiterate our gratitude to all our brothers and friends who have shown their solidarity and support for the Moroccan people during this difficult time.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
This tragedy has taught us a valuable lesson: the authentic values of the Moroccan soul have prevailed, the very values which have always enabled our country to overcome crises and adversity, and which constantly reinforce our determination to continue our journey confidently and optimistically.
This fine spirit and these noble ideals are in all of us, for they represent, for Us, the seeds of unity and cohesion of Moroccan society.
Enshrined in the Constitution, these national values combine all the constituent elements of the authentic Moroccan identity, weaving a bond of openness and harmony with universal ideals.
More specifically, We emphasize the founding values of a unified national identity:
First: Religious and spiritual values, at the forefront of which are the values of Maliki Sunni Islam, which is essentially based on the Commandery of the Faithful, and which advocates the golden mean, moderation and openness to others, tolerance and inter-religious and intercultural coexistence.
On the strength of this reference, Morocco today asserts itself as a successful model of living together, where Moroccans, Muslims, and Jews alike, cultivate cordial understanding and respect for other religions and cultures.
Second: The national values that underpin the Moroccan nation, and of which the Monarchy is the keystone. Indeed, thanks to the unanimous support of Moroccans, the monarchical institution has always had the primary vocation of unifying and bringing together all the components of the Moroccan people. Indeed, its foundation lies in the strong symbiosis and bonds of mutual allegiance that unite the Throne and the people.
Moreover, the Moroccan nation has been irreversibly forged around love of the homeland and unanimous attachment to the country’s national unity and territorial integrity. These unchanging values unite Moroccans and bring together, in a single matrix, all the tributaries of the national identity, unified, yet rich in its diversity.
Third: The values of solidarity and social cohesion across categories, generations, and regions, the very values that bind Moroccans together in a remarkable spirit of community.
We therefore call on everyone to remain firmly attached to these values, which contribute to the consolidation of national unity and family cohesion, the preservation of human dignity, and the strengthening of social justice.
This is all the more important, given the profound and accelerating changes taking place in the world today, which have led to a significant decline in the value systems and frames reference, and sometimes even their outright abandonment.
Ladies and gentlemen,
The letter We sent to the Head of Government to initiate the revision of the Family Code (Moudawana) is inspired by these national values, which place the family and family ties within the sphere of the sacred.
As the family is the basic unit of society, according to the Constitution, We always strive to create the right conditions to strengthen its unity.
Indeed, a healthy society is built on the foundation of a healthy, balanced family. Correlatively, if the family breaks down, society inevitably loses its compass.
That’s why We have always made a point of protecting the family, by initiating major projects and reforms in its favor.
Among these is the generalization of social protection, which We see as an essential pillar of our social and development model.
At the end of the year, with the Almighty’s help, We will also be implementing the direct social assistance program.
In keeping with the values of social solidarity that are deeply rooted in the Moroccan DNA, We have decided not to restrict this scheme to family allowances alone, but also ensure that the benefit reaches certain sections of society that are in need.
This support program is aimed at school-age children, children with disabilities, and newborns. It is also dedicated to the poor and vulnerable, to families without school-age children, especially those supporting elderly people.
Thanks to its direct impact on the targeted families, this program will raise their standard of living, combat poverty and insecurity, and, ultimately, improve social and human development indicators.
Indeed, society becomes more productive and enterprising when it is more united and better protected in the face of emergencies and economic fluctuations.
In this regard, We have instructed the government to implement this program according to a comprehensive approach in compliance with the provisions of the framework law on social protection adopted by the Parliament.
It is to be implemented gradually, taking into account the evolution of the funds allocated and setting the optimum level of coverage, the amounts of financial transfers, and the methods of managing them.
It should also be a model of successful implementation, based on the system for targeting beneficiaries under the unified social registry, making sure modern technology is properly leveraged.
The implementation of this program must be a model of success, and should, therefore, be supported by the Unified Social Register (RSU) targeting system, and take full advantage of the efficiency of new technologies.
In this context, We insist on strict compliance with the principles of solidarity, transparency and fairness in the allocation of aid, particularly to those who deserve it.
In addition, We call on the government to prioritize the rationalization of existing social assistance programs and ensure their effectiveness, as well as the sustainability of funding resources.
We also emphasize the need for the good governance of this project, in all its dimensions. To this end, an ad-hoc monitoring and evaluation mechanism must be created to guarantee the best conditions for its evolution and ongoing adjustment.
As you know, Ladies and Gentlemen, Parliament has a role to play in the dissemination and realization of these ancestral values, and in the implementation of large-scale projects and reforms.
To do so, you must remain constantly vigilant and mobilized to defend the Nation’s Causes and its higher interests.
I can think of no better way to close this address than these words by the Almighty: “Praise to Allah, who has removed from us [all] sorrow. Indeed, our Lord is Forgiving and Appreciative”. (Surah Fatir: 34) True is the Word of Allah.
Wassalamu alaikum warahmatullah wabarakatuh.”
