Moroccan Parliament Approves Bill to Reorganize National Press Council

In a significant move for Morocco's media landscape, the House of Representatives has overwhelmingly approved a draft law to reorganize the National Press Council. This legislation, passed with 70 votes in favor and 25 against, marks a pivotal moment in the nation's efforts to modernize its media sector and reinforce the principles of good governance and the rule of law. The Ministry of Youth, Culture, and Communication hailed the bill as a "qualitative step" towards enhancing transparency and accountability within the profession.

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This new law constitutes a pivotal milestone in the path of modernizing the national media landscape, and a qualitative step towards strengthening the rule of law, consolidating the principles of good governance, and reinforcing the foundations of transparency and responsibility.

The majority parties lauded the bill's philosophy, emphasizing its role in strengthening the societal and institutional standing of journalism. They highlighted the need to strike a balance among the various components of the press sector, especially in light of national and international transformations and emerging practices that could undermine the profession's credibility. Crucially, the majority underscored that the law ensures legal certainty and compliance with the Moroccan constitution, addressing observations made by the Constitutional Court in January and aiming to end a legal vacuum.

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The majority teams unanimously praised the philosophy of this project, which aims to strengthen the societal and institutional role of the journalism profession and achieve balance among the components of the journalistic field, in light of the national and international transformations the sector is experiencing, alongside the emergence of practices that undermine the profession's credibility.

However, the legislative process was not without its debates. Opposition groups, including the Socialist Unionist Party, questioned the rejection of numerous amendments proposed by the opposition, raising concerns about the legislative body's role in refining legal texts. The Popular Movement Party voiced legitimate fears among professionals regarding the future composition of the National Press Council and the mechanisms for appointing its members, as well as the potential for administrative interference in its operations. They argued that the reorganization should be a genuine gateway to reforming the entire sector, not merely a technical or formal exercise.

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The project comes to consolidate legal security and compliance with the Kingdom's constitution, and to implement the observations of the Constitutional Court issued last January.

The Party of Progress and Socialism, another opposition voice, contended that the government had not fully grasped the Constitutional Court's decision, viewing it not as a minor correction but as a fundamental critique of the self-regulation of the profession. In response to proposed amendments, the Minister of Youth, Culture, and Communication defended the bill's core tenets, including the council's structure and the election/appointment of its members, while denying any government intention to interfere in the self-regulation of Moroccan journalism. This careful balancing act reflects Morocco's ongoing commitment to fostering a responsible and credible press while navigating the complexities of media regulation.

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What is the purpose of rejecting about 137 amendments submitted by the opposition, considering that this raises questions about the status of the legislative institution in improving legal texts?