The Education, Culture and Communication Committee of the House of Representatives gave its approval to draft Law No. 15.23, which proposes the establishment of a temporary committee to oversee the affairs of the press and publishing sector.
The committee voted on the draft in the presence of Minister of Youth, Culture and Communication, Mohamed El Mahdi Bensaïd. Out of the committee’s 20 members, 15 voted in favor, while two deputies opposed it, and three abstained from voting.
Prior to the vote, the committee reviewed the amendments put forth by the Socialist-Federation Opposition Team in the House of Representatives. The team stated that their actions were in line with the responsibilities entrusted to parliamentary representatives regarding legislation and proposals.
The draft law specifies the creation of a temporary committee to replace the functions of the National Press Council during a transitional period. The committee’s primary task is to work towards improving the press and publishing sector and enhancing its capabilities. It will exercise the assigned responsibilities outlined in the law. However, if new members are elected to the National Press Council in accordance with Article 4, the committee’s functions will cease once the new members assume their duties.
Under the proposed legislation, the committee is mandated to conduct a comprehensive assessment of the current state of the press and publishing sector. It will also propose measures to strengthen the sector’s organizational foundations and foster cooperation and collaboration among various press entities and publishing organizations.
The government, which approved the draft law on April 13, justifies its introduction 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 on October 6, 2022. The government argues that the temporary committee is necessary to rectify the legal situation following the expiration of the council’s term. The committee’s tenure is set at two years from the appointment of its members, unless new members are elected during this period.
Members of the parliamentary majority expressed their appreciation for the content of the draft law, viewing it as a means to fill the legal void concerning the functioning of the National Press Council and contribute to media reform in Morocco.
Opposition parliamentary groups, on the other hand, maintain that there is no legislative vacuum justifying the creation of a temporary committee to manage press and publishing affairs. 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.
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