فاس نيوز ميديا جريدة الكترونية جهوية تعنى بشؤون و أخبار جهة فاس مكناس – متجددة على مدار الساعة
Parliamentary sources reported that opposition groups and caucuses within the House of Representatives, supported by a number of independent MPs, have completed the required legal quorum to refer the draft law on the reorganization of the National Press Council to the Constitutional Court, in order to rule on its conformity with the provisions of the Constitution.
According to the same sources, the referral request was officially submitted to the Constitutional Court this morning, pursuant to Article 132 of the Constitution, which allows a specified number of members of the House of Representatives to refer laws to the Constitutional Court before their promulgation, when doubts are raised regarding their constitutionality.
This move follows the House of Representatives’ adoption of the draft law in a second reading, without introducing what were described as substantive amendments, amid broad debate accompanying its legislative trajectory both inside and outside Parliament, with the participation of opposition components as well as professional and human rights bodies.
According to the memorandum accompanying the referral request, the opposition considers that certain provisions of the draft law raise constitutional concerns, including what it views as an infringement on the principle of self-regulation of the journalism profession, and a violation of the principles of equality and equal opportunity within the journalistic community.
The memorandum also points, according to available information, to concerns related to the expansion of the council’s powers in a manner that could create overlap with the competencies of the legislative and executive branches, in addition to a potential impact on guarantees of a fair trial and the right to defense in disciplinary procedures.
The raised observations further include issues related to legal certainty and to the criteria governing the representativeness of professionals and institutions within the council’s structures, and the potential consequences of unjustified discrimination among different categories of actors in the press and publishing sector.
The Constitutional Court is expected to begin examining the referral file in the coming days, before issuing its decision on the constitutionality of the draft law—either by confirming its conformity with the Constitution, declaring the unconstitutionality of certain provisions, or ruling it unconstitutional in its entirety.
Source: Fes News Media
