فاس نيوز ميديا جريدة الكترونية جهوية تعنى بشؤون و أخبار جهة فاس مكناس – متجددة على مدار الساعة
Rabat –
The legislative session of the House of Councillors held on Wednesday, December 24, 2025, witnessed clear political and institutional tension following the scheduling of the draft law on the reorganization of the National Press Council. This came after a strong point of order was raised by the Haraki parliamentary group.
Speaking on behalf of the group, Councillor Nabil El Yazidi voiced objections to what he described as the use of the “numerical majority logic” to pass a draft law concerning a sensitive sector directly linked to public freedoms and the self-regulation of the journalism profession. He argued that the discussion process was marked by haste and the marginalization of the opposition’s role.
The speaker pointed out that the Minister of Youth, Culture and Communication had previously announced his refusal to introduce any amendments to the bill, a stance that was reflected during the proceedings of the Committee on Education, Cultural and Social Affairs. According to the Haraki Group, key amendments proposed by the opposition—addressing legal and substantive shortcomings—were ignored. These amendments, they argue, warrant returning the bill to the House of Representatives, particularly with regard to Articles 13 and 57.
The Haraki Group also highlighted inconsistencies between the draft law and other legislative texts, including Law No. 17.95 on arbitration and mediation, as well as provisions deemed to encroach on the jurisdiction of the judicial authority and others that infringe upon the exclusive powers of the legislative branch, notably Article 55 of the draft law.
Based on these considerations, the Haraki Group formally requested that the Speaker of the House of Councillors activate the provisions of Article 132 of the Constitution and Article 347 of the House’s Rules of Procedure by referring the draft law on the National Press Council to the Constitutional Court. The group argued that the bill lacks the conditions for sound constitutional debate and reflects political alignment that prioritizes “majority support” over legislative quality and institutional governance.
These developments come amid a broader controversy surrounding the draft law, with professional and trade union circles expressing concerns about its potential impact on press independence and the self-regulation of the profession, while calls grow louder for respect of a participatory democratic process in drafting laws related to rights and freedoms.
