Moroccan lawmakers defend parliamentary immunity in ‘flour-paper’ case

Lawmakers from both the majority and opposition parties in Morocco’s House of Representatives voiced support Monday for maintaining parliamentary immunity in the case involving Ahmed Touizi, head of the Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM) parliamentary group, after prosecutors opened an inquiry into his remarks alleging corruption in flour production.

During the weekly oral questions session, several MPs insisted on upholding the separation of powers following the Attorney General’s decision to launch an investigation into Touizi’s statements about companies “grinding paper” and presenting it as subsidized flour.

Abdellah Bouanou, head of the Justice and Development Party’s (PJD) parliamentary group, was the first to raise the issue, emphasizing that “the Constitution establishes the principles of separation, cooperation, and balance of powers.”

He urged the House presidency to review the matter under Article 64 of the Constitution and Article 30 of the internal regulations, which grant immunity to lawmakers for opinions expressed during their official duties.

“Deputies cannot be subject to prosecution or investigation for comments made inside Parliament or through written or oral questions,” Bouanou said, calling on the House Bureau to act “in respect of institutional balance and separation of powers.”

House session chair Mohamed Ghiath, an MP from the National Rally of Independents (RNI), responded that the issue “will be referred to the Bureau of the House for examination.”

Saïd Baaziz, a Socialist Union (USFP) lawmaker, also defended Touizi’s immunity, citing Article 1 of the Constitution, which affirms that Morocco’s constitutional system is based on “the separation, balance, and cooperation of powers.”

He added that Article 64 protects members of Parliament from prosecution over opinions expressed in the exercise of their duties, except in cases challenging the monarchy, Islam, or the respect due to the King.

Baaziz said Touizi’s comments, made during a Finance Committee meeting on the 2026 draft budget, clearly fell within the scope of this protection. “It was an opinion expressed within a standing committee, it must remain within the institutional framework,” he said.

From the majority, Allal Amraoui, head of the Istiqlal Party’s parliamentary group, also defended Touizi’s right to free expression in Parliament. “This opinion was expressed freely and responsibly, in full respect of constitutional provisions,” Amraoui said, adding that Parliament must remain “a true platform for defending citizens’ concerns and expectations.”

At the close of the debate, Ghiath thanked the MPs for “their concern for the prerogatives of the House and its members,” reaffirming that “the matter will be submitted to the Bureau for appropriate consideration.”