Morocco Approves Bill to Establish Provisional Committee to Oversee Press, Publishing Sector

Rabat – The Education, Culture, and Communication Committee at the House of Representatives has approved a bill aimed at establishing a provisional committee responsible for managing the affairs of the press and publishing industry in Morocco.

Fifteen members of the committee voted in favor, two members voted against it, and three abstained during a session attended today by the Minister of Youth, Culture and Communication, Mohamed Mehdi Bensaid.

The primary objective of the bill is to create a transitional commission that will temporarily replace the National Press Council (CNP). The provisional committee seeks to create the necessary conditions to promote the press and publishing sector and enhance its capabilities.

According to the bill, the committee will serve for a fixed term of two years unless new members are elected during this period.

Among its key responsibilities, the commission will conduct an overall assessment of the current state of the press and publishing sector.

The committee will propose measures to strengthen the sector’s organizational foundations and foster cooperation and collaboration among its components.

The government’s decision to present this draft law was driven by the inability to hold elections for the National Press Council, even after its term was extended. The provisional committee will serve in its place while seats on the CNP remain empty.

The majority of the Education, Culture, and Communication Committee‘s members welcomed the draft law, emphasizing its role in filling the legal gap in the functioning of the National Press Council and paving the way for future reforms in the Moroccan media landscape.

They expressed optimism that the project would enable the media sector to overcome existing challenges, thereby becoming a robust industry with a solid legal framework and a capable Council.

However, opposition groups expressed concerns about the creation of a provisional committee to oversee the daily operations of the media and publishing sector, questioning the motivation behind it and calling for representation from all parties in the commission.

They advocated for additional time to refine the legal text and explore appropriate solutions to the issues faced by the National Press Council.

The approval of this bill marks a significant step toward addressing the challenges in Morocco’s press and publishing industry, providing a transitional mechanism to facilitate necessary reforms and improve the sector’s functionality.