Growing Movement Against Daylight Saving Time in Morocco
Amid rising debates surrounding the implementation of Daylight Saving Time in Morocco, a notable civil momentum has emerged, propelled by an electronic petition entitled "We Want to Return to Standard Time." This petition has garnered over 20,000 signatures, reflecting a significant public demand for the abolition of the additional hour that has been a controversial topic among citizens.
This civil initiative is anchored in Article 15 of the Moroccan Constitution of 2011, which promotes participatory democracy. Karamah Gharad, a researcher in political science and constitutional law, emphasized that the petition has met the legal and procedural requirements outlined in Organic Law No. 44.14, necessitating its submission to the Prime Minister or one of the legislative bodies for discussion, thereby enhancing public discourse on the matter.
Gharad stated, "The petition represents a democratic exercise that tests the responsiveness of the concerned institutions. Given the number of signatures, the document is legally valid, and the core demand is to repeal the decree adding 60 minutes and revert to Greenwich Mean Time permanently. It is expected that the addressed authority will create a petitions committee to review its compliance with both formal and substantive requirements as stipulated in the law."
Abbas Al-Wardi, a public law professor at Mohammed V University in Rabat, echoed these sentiments, asserting that citizens have the right to initiate actions that align with public policies, especially regarding their health and well-being. He noted that the petition's success in surpassing the legal threshold of 4,000 signatures signifies a national consensus. Al-Wardi further emphasized that the petition must transition from the digital space to institutional pathways by being presented to the government for consideration, particularly with the impending return to Daylight Saving Time in the coming days.
He continued, "The essence of participatory democracy lies in involving citizens in legislation and assessing public policies. The ongoing rise in public rejection of Daylight Saving Time underscores the pressing need for government bodies, including consultative and governance institutions, to provide advisory opinions on the topic, especially given the psychological strain and productivity issues it imposes on the populace."
As reported by hespress.com.
