The House of Representatives has expressed growing frustration over the repeated absences of government ministers during weekly oral question sessions, a situation that lawmakers say is disrupting parliamentary proceedings.
According to Hespress AR sources close to the lower house, the issue dominated Tuesday’s weekly meeting of the House of Representatives’ Bureau, which raised concerns about the lack of ministerial attendance and its impact on the ability of MPs to hold the government accountable.
In response, the Bureau decided to formally notify the government via the Minister Delegate in charge of Relations with Parliament, urging ministers to attend their designated sessions—except in cases of emergency.
The Bureau also examined the possibility of sending advance reminders to ministers scheduled to appear during sessions grouped by policy sector, as a preventive measure. Sources said the Bureau stressed the importance of upholding the internal rules of the House and respecting the legislative institution.
While acknowledging that emergencies or official commitments may occasionally prevent attendance, lawmakers emphasized that such situations should remain the exception, not the rule.
Opposition parties have repeatedly voiced dissatisfaction with what they describe as the government’s “dismissive attitude” toward parliamentary oversight and the “unjustified” absences of several ministers.
Minister’s Address Sparks Controversy
In a separate matter, the Bureau also discussed a controversy that arose during a recent session when the Minister of National Education, Preschool, and Sports addressed a female MP as “Lalla”, a term of respect in Moroccan Arabic but considered inappropriate in the formal setting of the national legislature.
According to Hespress AR sources from within Parliament, Bureau members criticized the use of the term, insisting that ministers should adhere to established norms and decorum when addressing elected representatives in the chamber.
The incident has reignited debate over parliamentary etiquette and the tone of interaction between government officials and lawmakers.
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