RABAT – The Moroccan government’s recent move to establish a temporary committee to oversee the press and publishing sector has sparked significant controversy, with sharp criticism from the opposition, particularly the Party of Progress and Socialism (PPS), the Justice and Development Party (PJD), and the Democratic Federation of the Left (FGD).
The Education, Culture, and Communication Committee of the House of Representatives approved Draft Law No. 15.23 on June 14, which proposes the establishment of the said committee. Out of the committee’s 20 members, 15 voted in favor, while two deputies opposed it, and three abstained from voting.
In a scathing rebuke, the PPS condemned the government’s move as a “disastrous project,” “a scandal,” and “an unprecedented setback in the democratic process.” The party also accused the government of blatant interference in journalistic practices and the affairs of an independent professional body.
In a statement, the party asserted that “the introduction of this disastrous project by the government represents a scandal, an unprecedented setback in the democratic process, and a blatant interference in journalistic practices and in the affairs of an independent professional body, the likes of which has not been seen even in the darkest moments of media repression in our country.”
The PPS has called on “all societal fronts to confront it with all possible legitimate means.”
According to the draft law, the temporary committee’s primary task is to work towards improving the press and publishing sector and enhancing its capabilities. The committee’s tenure is set at two years from the appointment of its members, unless new members are elected to the National Press Council during this period.
The Moroccan government justified its introduction of the draft law as a response to the failure to hold elections for the National Press Council, despite the extension of its mandate through a decree-law issued in October 2022. It argued that the temporary committee is necessary to rectify the legal situation following the expiration of the council’s term.
However, opposition parliamentary groups contend that there is no legislative void justifying the creation of the temporary committee. They emphasize the need for fair representation of all parties in the committee and advocate for additional time to improve the text and seek appropriate solutions to the issues facing the National Press Council.
