Speech of the Revolution of the King and the People: Separating the Past from the Present

“The glorious Revolution of the King and the People, the anniversary of which Moroccans celebrate on August 20 each year, is a historic epic that embodies the strong symbiosis and unshakeable bonds always uniting the Throne and the People.

The significance of this memorable anniversary cannot be measured by speeches and celebrations alone, but it is an anniversary that is so dear to the hearts of all Moroccans, King and People alike, embodying the values of sacrifice and loyalty between a King who preferred exile to renouncing the sovereignty and freedom of his homeland, and a valiant people who rallied to defend its sanctities and sacrificed everything they held dear for the return of their rightful King to the Throne.

Since the anniversary of the glorious Revolution of the King and the People comes a few days after the Speech from the Throne and before the Royal Speech at the opening of Parliament, and in the light of experience in this regard, it has been decided to continue the celebration of the anniversary of the memorable Revolution of August 20, without a Royal Speech being addressed to the Nation on this occasion.

Likewise, His Majesty the King, in His capacity as Amir Al-Mouminine and Sovereign of the country, reserves the Decision to address His faithful people at any time and on any occasion that His Majesty the King deems appropriate.

The continuation of the commemoration of this dear anniversary as a national holiday will remain a shining beacon in the history of Morocco, with all that its symbolism requires in terms of celebrations and academic, cultural, artistic, sporting and other events, in all regions of the Kingdom.

It should be noted that the suppression of the Royal Speech on the occasion of the commemoration of the Revolution of the King and the People carries an important message due to the geopolitical dimension that it induces in an unprecedented regional context.

Indeed, the Royal Decision marks a definitive detachment of the Kingdom from its colonial past and its inclusion in a new path of development, facing the future.

The Royal Decision is also synonymous with strength for Morocco, which does not attach itself to its past for political ends, as is the case of the Algerian regime, which, since its independence, instrumentalizes and trades the question of memory.

The timing of the Royal Decision is consistent with the multisector advances made by the Kingdom of Morocco, the diversification of its continental and international partners, its firmness vis-à-vis countries playing a double game, by instilling the idea that, from now on, Morocco’s collaboration with third countries will be based on equal treatment.

With this decision, the Kingdom of Morocco is taking a different approach to its past, with a view to prospering and establishing itself as a free nation with undeniable political and diplomatic clout.