Parliament ends 2024 with only 40 attendees out of 392

The Moroccan parliament continues to face criticism over chronic absenteeism from its weekly sessions. 

Attendance figures barely surpassed 40 out of a total of 392 members in the house of representatives during Monday’s session.

This issue, despite the adoption of a parliamentary code of ethics, continues to plague the parliament. 

Some attribute the high absentee rate to the session coinciding with the year-end holiday when lawmakers prioritize personal travel, often with their families, over their parliamentary duties. 

While some critics say that members of parliament, like any other citizen, have the right to travel, others counter that this constitutes a dereliction of duty and a disregard for their responsibilities to the electorate.

Abdallah Abou Awad, an academic and political analyst, said that the regulations that govern absences require members to submit prior notice to the Speaker, outlining the reason for their absence and adhering to specified acceptable excuses. 

The analyst told Hespress Ar that attendance records are publicly available, proving that member attendance is subject to scrutiny.

Abu Awad acknowledged that some absences are justifiable, such as those related to committee work or external assignments relevant to their constituencies.

But the core issue remains one of accountability, says the analyst. Ultimately, the citizens elect their representatives and expect them to fulfill their duties diligently.

Abu Awad says that public perception of parliament is influenced by limited understanding of parliamentary procedures and the incomplete media coverage of parliamentary activities. 

Abdelhafid Younssi, a professor of political science, expressed a more critical view, stating that absenteeism reflects a deeper systemic crisis within the parliamentary system. 

Younssi said that the code of ethics, while a crucial legal framework, can only be truly effective within a robust political and institutional culture that prioritizes and values the parliament’s representative function.

Younssi cited reports from the Ministry of Relations with Parliament and the parliament’s chambers, which collectively point to a “deep crisis” within the parliamentary system. 

The professor said that absenteeism is not merely a cause for concern but rather a symptom of a system that has become overly focused on law-making while neglecting its core representative function. 

Younssi added that widespread absenteeism erodes public trust in institutions, a crucial element for navigating challenges and making informed decisions. 

This erosion of trust can lead to voter apathy, resulting in the repeated election of the same elites. This cycle, as evidenced by experiences in other countries, can have detrimental consequences for the state and society.