Government to ask for royal commission to probe amendments to personal statute

Morocco's prime minister Abderrahmane Youssoufi, announced recently his government's plan to ask King Mohammed VI to set up a royal commission to probe into amendments to the personal statute.

The official who was chairing over the week end a meeting of "Chabiba Ittihadia," the youth section of his party-- the socialist union of popular forces-- insisted the government has not changed its stand on the issue and is still determined to implement its statement presented before the late king Hassan II when it was appointed in March 1998 and adopted by the parliament two chambers.

A government project dubbed "project for the social and economic integration of women" had sparked a wide wave of protests from conservative circles in Morocco. The reason was mainly due to proposals to bring up marriage age from 16 to 18, sharing of wealth accumulated by a married couple in case of divorce and other proposals related to the economic and social empowerment of women.

The prime minister also announced that a law instituting compulsory health insurance, mainly for students, will be enacted shortly.

Other priorities set by the socialist-led government include education reforms, generalization of schooling and struggle against illiteracy.

Of unemployment affecting university graduates, the premier said the solution lies in investments.

Another major announcement made by Youssoufi was the return of Ittihadia Ichtirakia publication after Youssoufi and his party's youth section reached a compromise over the editorial line and the publication development prospects and promotion.