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Can the King stop the spring?

Astute reforms have held revolution at bay but the monarchy could be running out of time

So far, monarchies have proved more resilient to the democracy wave sweeping North Africa and the Middle East than the nationalist dictatorships, but in Morocco, some business and political insiders are beginning to revise that view. In a speech on 9 March, which we hear he largely wrote himself, King Mohammed VI’s initial response to the calls for change showed a surer political touch than many of his counterparts in the region. With some justification, ‘M6’ could argue that he had launched constitutional reform long before the current wave of protests. Yet the question remains: will it be enough to head off growing unrest?...

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Can the King stop the spring?

Astute reforms have held revolution at bay but the monarchy could be running out of time

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