Talbi Alami: House takes no action after Bouanou blames government for shots fired at Gen Z protesters

Morocco’s House of Representatives bureau discussed a claim by PJD parliamentary group leader Abdellah Bouanou that the government bore responsibility for bullets fired at young “Gen Z” protesters last year, but took no action, House Speaker Rachid Talbi Alami said.

Talbi Alami, a member of the National Rally of Independents political bureau, told Hespress in an interview that political officials must use caution when raising matters that touch state institutions.

Bouanou had said during the monthly session questioning the head of government: “Since 1981, bullets had not been fired in the streets until you came to government.”

Talbi Alami said freedom of expression is guaranteed by the constitution, but added: “When we touch the country’s constants, we are in another kind of speech.”

“The House bureau did discuss the matter, without taking any measures,” he said. “Whoever says anything must bear responsibility for it, and we should not drag into political debate state institutions that are doing their duty as they should and as required. We should not try to fabricate matters and issues that do not exist.”

He said the remarks affect Morocco’s image at a time when “a number of political adversaries are lying in wait for Morocco” and as the country prepares to co-host the 2030 World Cup. “The political official must be cautious in the topics he raises,” he said.

On the opposition’s initiative to seek a parliamentary fact-finding committee into sheep import subsidies, Talbi Alami said no formal request had reached the House bureau.

“What we have is an ‘announcement from the rostrum’ during the questioning session,” he said, referring to Bouanou’s stated intention to launch the request.

He said he had been told opposition group leaders were contacting majority groups over the matter, but added: “Until now, no request has reached the House bureau.” If a request is submitted, he said, “I do not have the right to refuse or accept.”

Talbi Alami said fact-finding committees are governed by an organic law to prevent them becoming “a subject of one-upmanship.” He said any request must meet signature requirements and concern a matter amounting to a “national scandal.”

He said, if signatures are gathered, the prime minister must be notified within three days and has 15 days to say whether the case has been referred to the judiciary. If not, the House speaker asks parliamentary groups to name members, a process he said could take about a month.

On MPs facing corruption cases, Talbi Alami said 12 lawmakers had been stripped of membership, “five from the opposition and seven from the majority.”