Executive branch:
chief of state: King HASSAN II (since 3 March 1961) is a hereditary
monarch
head of government: Prime Minister Abdellatif FILALI (since 29 May
1994) was appointed by the king
cabinet: Council of Ministers was appointed by the king
Legislative branch: unicameral
Chamber of Representatives (Majlis Nawab): two-thirds elected by
direct, universal suffrage and one-third by an electoral college of
government, professional, and labor representatives; direct, popular
elections last held 15 June 1993 (next to be held NA 1999); results
- percent of vote by party NA; seats - (333 total, 222 directly
elected) USFP 48, IP 43, MP 33, RNI 28, UC 27, PND 14, MNP 14, PPS
6, PDI 3, SAP 2, PA 2, OADP 2; indirect, special interest elections
last held 17 September 1993 (next to be held NA 1999); results -
percent of vote by party NA; seats - (333 total, 111 indirectly
elected) UC 27, MP 18, RNI 13, MNP 11, PND 10, IP 7, Party of Shura
and Istiqlal 6, USFP 4, PPS 4, CDT 4, UTM 3, UGTM 2, SAP 2
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges are appointed on the
recommendation of the Supreme Council of the Judiciary, presided
over by the king
Political parties and leaders:
opposition: Socialist Union of Popular Forces (USFP), Mohammad
al-YAZGHI; Istiqlal Party (IP), M'Hamed BOUCETTA; Party of Progress
and Socialism (PPS), Ali YATA; Organization of Democratic and
Popular Action (OADP), Mohamed Ben SAID
pro-government: Constitutional Union (UC), Maati BOUABID; Popular
Movement (MP), Mohamed LAENSER; National Democratic Party (PND),
Mohamed Arsalane EL-JADIDI; National Popular Movement (MNP),
Mahjoubi AHARDANE
independents: National Rally of Independents (RNI), Ahmed OSMAN;
Democracy and Istiqlal Party (PDI), leader NA; Action Party (PA),
Abdullah SENHAJI; Non-Obedience Candidates (SAP), leader NA
labor unions and community organizations (indirect elections:
Democratic Confederation of Labor (CDT), Nabir AMAOUI; General Union
of Moroccan Workers (UGTM), Abderrazzak AFILAL; Moroccan Union of
Workers (UTM), leader NA; Party of Shura and Istiqlal, leader NA
International organization participation: ABEDA, ACCT (associate),
AfDB, AFESD, AL, AMF, AMU, CCC, EBRD, ECA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD,
ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,
Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, NAM, OAS
(observer), OIC, OSCE (partner), UN, UNAVEM III, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Mohamed BENAISSA
chancery: 1601 21st Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
telephone: [1] (202) 462-7979 through 7982
FAX: [1] (202) 265-0161
consulate(s) general: New York
US diplomatic representation: chief of mission: Ambassador Marc C. GINSBERG embassy: 2 Avenue de Marrakech, Rabat mailing address: PSC 74, Box 003, APO AE 09718 telephone: [212] (7) 76 22 65 FAX: [212] (7) 76 56 61 consulate(s) general: Casablanca
Flag: red with a green pentacle (five-pointed, linear star) known as Solomon's seal in the center of the flag; green is the traditional color of Islam
Economy ———-
Economic overview: Morocco faces the typical problems of developing countries - restraining government spending, reducing constraints on private activity and foreign trade, and keeping inflation within bounds. Since the early 1980s the government has pursued an economic program toward these objectives with the support of the IMF, the World Bank, and the Paris Club of creditors. The economy has substantial assets to draw on: the world's largest phosphate reserves, diverse agricultural and fishing resources, a sizable tourist industry, a growing manufacturing sector, and remittances from Moroccans working abroad. A severe drought in 1992-93 depressed economic activity and held down exports. Real GDP contracted by 4.4% in 1992 and 1.1% in 1993. Despite these setbacks, initiatives to relax capital controls, strengthen the banking sector, and privatize state enterprises went forward in 1993-94. Favorable rainfall in 1994 boosted agricultural production by 40%. In 1995, Morocco suffered from a drought said to be the worst in 30 years. Servicing the large debt, high unemployment, and vulnerability to external economic forces remain long-term problems for Morocco.