Sources to FesNews: Fez-Meknes Wilaya Cabinet Blamed for Excluding MPs and Elected Officials from Unity Day Ceremonies

FEZ (FesNews Media) — A well-informed source revealed to FesNews that the cabinet administration (Diwan) of the Wilaya of the Fez-Meknes Region and Prefecture of Fez was directly responsible for the exclusion of numerous elected officials, including the failure to extend official invitations to several Members of Parliament (MPs) and prominent civil society figures, during the official ceremonies commemorating Morocco’s historic Unity Day (Eid Al-Wahda).

According to the same source speaking to FesNews, the glaring lack of institutional coordination and the absence of proper organizational and protocol standards within the Wilaya’s cabinet administration prevented the events marking this historic national occasion in Morocco’s spiritual and scientific capital from achieving their rightful radiance, public resonance, and institutional weight.

The revelation has sparked widespread debate across political, parliamentary, and civic circles in Fez, particularly given the extraordinary national symbolism of October 31 (Unity Day), which was instituted by His Majesty King Mohammed VI as a national holiday celebrating Morocco’s decisive diplomatic triumphs over the Moroccan Sahara—an occasion that inherently calls for maximum institutional synergy and inclusive national mobilization.

Protocol Lapses and Unjustified Exclusion of Parliamentary and Local Representatives

Details obtained by FesNews Media indicate that multiple members of both houses of the Moroccan Parliament—the House of Representatives and the House of Councillors—representing constituencies in the Prefecture of Fez and the Fez-Meknes region, alongside elected council members and respected civic leaders, were surprised to find themselves omitted from the official invitation lists for the Unity Day commemorations.

Local observers and political actors placed direct administrative responsibility on the cabinet administration of the Wilaya of Fez-Meknes, noting that the Diwan serves as the primary institutional bridge between the Wali and Governor of the Prefecture of Fez on one hand, and elected bodies, parliamentarians, and civil society stakeholders on the other. Any failure to maintain accurate protocol rosters and transparent communication channels directly undermines institutional harmony.

Constitutional and local governance analysts in Fez emphasized that Morocco’s constitutional framework enshrines both representative and participatory democracy, positioning parliamentarians and territorial elected councils—across the Fez-Meknes Regional Council, the Fez Prefectural Council, and the Commune of Fez—as indispensable partners alongside the territorial administration in embodying national unity during sovereign commemorations.

Calls for Standardized Protocol and Official Clarification from the Wilaya

The source further noted to FesNews that the absence of rigorous organizational standards within the Wilaya’s cabinet did not merely affect protocol attendance, but also dampened the overall impact and public visibility of the celebrations in Fez, contrasting with other major Moroccan regions where synchronized coordination between Wilaya cabinets, elected representatives, and civil society produced landmark celebrations matching the stature of the royal decree.

These criticisms arise at a pivotal juncture as the city of Fez prepares for major strategic and infrastructure transformations ahead of the 2030 FIFA World Cup, including the comprehensive smart upgrade of the Grand Stade de Fez and urban mobility projects—endeavors that require an agile, communicative, and inclusive Wilaya cabinet capable of uniting all institutional and civic forces rather than operating through bureaucratic isolation.

In contrast, another source within the Wilaya of the Fez-Meknes Region affirmed to FesNews Media that these claims are inaccurate, emphasizing that official invitations were duly extended to all individuals and representatives required to attend the national event in accordance with established protocol, and that no person was intentionally sidelined or excluded, while taking into account the excused absences of several invitees who were unable to attend due to prior commitments.