128
The United States and North Africa
in to end the mandate of the Ibrahim government. He an-
nounced in a nationwide speech that he was assuming control
of the government himself with the Crown Prince as Vice-
premier, and asked individuals of all tendencies to help him
form a cabinet of national union. All groups except the UNFP
agreed to participate in this stabilization effort.
Since 1960 Morocco has been governed as well as reigned
over by its monarchs, Muhammad V until his sudden death in
February 1961, and Hassan II thereafter. In chat interval, al-
though there have been few changes in political structure, a
clear division has emerged between the palace and its sup-
porters in groups representing conservative and rural elements,
and the opposition entrenched in the industrial cities along the
Atlantic coast, where in municipal elections in 1960 (the only
eleccions yet held in Morocco) its candidates won a majority.
The monarchy is the point of departure for any under-
standing of modern Morocco, and it is more than just one of
many political ingredients. The 'Alawite family has ruled for
three centuries and has by now forged a strong affective bond
between itself and the people, which makes the throne as close
to the heart of the continuing tradition of the nation as possi-
ble. Thus the King, who wields power not only as the malik,
or temporal executive, but also as imam, the spiritual leader of
the Moroccan Muslim community, is the evocation of the
national personality. His popularity among simple and rural
people approaches adulation and if in the cities there is a
newer, sophisticated view of him as a political figure, he can
still never really be looked on by any Moroccan as an ordinary
individual. The decision of the royal family to step into the
arena of politics was a fateful one. It raised cries of arbitrari-
ness and personal power" from the UNFP opposition, and
caused discussion in many circles, but until now there has been
no sign that any other force in the country is capable of as-
suring national solidarity.
Until the end of 1962 Morocco was an absolute monarchy in
|