Parliament moves to name and shame absentee MPs

The House of Representatives has recently decided to publicly announce the names of absent members during two sessions—on November 4 and 11, 2024—at the start of a plenary session dedicated to voting on the first part of the 2025 Finance Bill.

This move follows growing criticism over the repeated absence of lawmakers from parliamentary sessions, which have often been held with a minimal presence of members.

As a response, the House previously explored measures like the use of electronic cards to confirm attendance.

The decision to read out the names of absent members is based on Article 61 of the House’s internal regulations (2004), which stipulates that members who fail to attend without a valid excuse are to receive a written warning, and their names are to be read aloud at the beginning of the next session.

This provision was reaffirmed in the revised regulations approved in August 2024 under Article 395.

Rachid El Meddour, a former MP and constitutional law professor, commented that this measure serves as a moral reprimand for absent lawmakers, publicly highlighting their lack of commitment to their parliamentary duties.

He told Hespress AR  that it could negatively impact the credibility of MPs, especially when seeking re-election, as voters may view such behavior as neglectful. Madour also emphasized that the presence of MPs, particularly during key legislative discussions like the Finance Bill, is essential for ensuring democratic representation.

Rachid Kdira, a professor of constitutional law at Ibn Zohr University in Agadir, noted that the absence of MPs from such crucial debates raises concerns about their commitment to their constitutional roles.

He highlighted the importance of MPs’ presence in discussions on public policy, especially the Finance Bill, which directly relates to the government’s program and the country’s budget.

He argued that simply reprimanding absentees with procedural measures, such as reducing allowances, is insufficient. Instead, he suggested that legal reforms, such as banning absentee MPs from running in future elections, may be necessary.