Parliament likely to merge oversight requests into single inquiry on livestock subsidy programs

A request by opposition lawmakers in the House of Representatives to form a fact-finding committee on government subsidies related to livestock importation and farming is unlikely to proceed, according to a senior parliamentary source.

The request reportedly does not meet the constitutional and procedural requirements, including the necessary threshold of 132 signatures—equivalent to one-third of the chamber’s members.

According to Hespress AR sources, the Parliamentary Bureau is instead leaning toward merging multiple oversight initiatives into a single exploratory mission under the Committee on Productive Sectors.

These initiatives include a request from the majority to investigate livestock import support programs, a previous motion from the Haraki (Popular Movement) group concerning alleged irregularities in the red meat supply chain and price controls, and another focused on contractual programs between the state and inter-professional associations.

“This merging approach is a practical and unifying solution,” said a source from within the Bureau. The consolidated mission would reflect a broader investigation into the livestock and meat sector and aim to provide the public with clarity amid rising concern over market prices and food supply transparency.

Another senior official within the House of Representatives noted that, while the opposition’s request for a formal inquiry committee was legitimate in principle, it lacked the required parliamentary backing to move forward. “The opposition is aware of the constitutional barriers but has used the proposal to generate political momentum,” the official stated.

Under Article 67 of the Moroccan Constitution, a parliamentary inquiry committee can only be created if requested by one-third of either legislative chamber. Similarly, Article 142 of the House’s new internal regulations prohibits the organization of more than two exploratory missions by the same committee simultaneously and restricts duplicate missions on the same subject during one legislative term.

Meanwhile, the Committee on Productive Sectors is already conducting an oversight mission on the “Forsa” entrepreneurship program. A source within the committee indicated that consolidating the subsidy-related requests into a single mission would ensure an inclusive and transparent process while complying with internal procedures.

If approved next Monday, the merged oversight mission will trigger formal procedures for the appointment of its members, president, and rapporteur, with participation from all political factions. Officials emphasized that the purpose of the mission is to collect verified data, evaluate public policies, and improve outcomes for citizens and the state alike.

The proposed initiative is seen as a pragmatic compromise that balances institutional rules with the need for parliamentary oversight amid growing public interest in food prices and government interventions in the livestock sector.