Address of Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Rachid Talbi El Alami, at Award Ceremony of the Third Edition of the National Prize for Studies and Research on Parliamentary Action

In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful, and may prayers and peace be upon His noble messenger, his kith and kin

Distinguished Professor Amina El Messaoudi, President of the Jury,

Distinguished Professors, members of the Jury of the National Prize for Studies and Research on Parliamentary Action,

Honorable Colleagues, members of the Board of the House of Representatives;

Honorable Chairpersons of the Parliamentary Groups and Caucus;

Honorable Chairpersons of the Standing Committees,

Honorable Representatives,

Distinguished Professors, President of Universities, Deans of Faculties, Directors of Research Centers and Laboratories, and coordinators of master's degree programs;

Esteemed ladies and gentlemen, representatives of the media;

Esteemed students and researchers present among us;

Esteemed guests, each in their name and capacity;

I am immensely proud that we are meeting today at the Seat of the House of Representatives to celebrate scientific research and researchers specializing in parliamentary action on the occasion of the announcement of the results of the review and evaluation of all the scientific works nominated for the National Prize for Studies and Research on Parliamentary Action in its third edition.

On this occasion, it is my honor, ladies and gentlemen, to welcome you to the ceremony to announce the name of the awardees of this Prize, which provides a solid foundation that reflects the strong link between scientific knowledge and academic research, on the one hand, and the legislative institution on the other, given that the Parliament is one of the main themes enjoying great attention from researchers.

Allow me, first of all, to affirm that our awareness of the importance of science and knowledge in achieving progress and development was the concern behind the stipulation in the Rules of Procedure of the House of Representatives for the creation of this Prize, through which we intend to crown distinguished scientific works relating to the prerogatives of the Parliament, namely legislation, parliamentary control, the evaluation of public policies, parliamentary diplomacy, as well as the other matters linked to democratic practice and political development relating to parliamentary action.

Esteemed ladies and gentlemen,

Achieving the efficiency of parliamentary action, as one of the constitutional rules provided for in Article 69 of the 2011 Constitution of the Kingdom, requires today that parliamentary action be accompanied by solid academic and scientific knowledge in order to improve the approaches and measures of parliamentary practice in a way that knowledge accompanies parliamentary action, elucidates its strengths, identifies its weaknesses, responds to its practical problems, contributes to its development, and aims to improve the conditions and circumstances for advancing the performance of representative missions while guaranteeing the fulfillment of the requirements of increasing the efficiency and quality of parliamentary performance.

Being aware of the importance of scientific research in the evolution of society, given that it is a means of achieving global development, the 2011 Constitution of the Kingdom provides in Article 26 that "the public authorities shall provide, by appropriate means, their support for the development of cultural and artistic creation, and scientific research..." Hence came the creation of this Prize by virtue of the Rules of Procedure of the House of Representatives to concretize this constitutional pledge through this mechanism designed to support and encourage academic research on parliamentary action.

In the same vein, given the importance of scientific evidence in parliamentary action, the House of Representatives created the Parliamentary Center for Research and Studies as an administrative structure whose mission is to accompany the House and support all its components. We also worked on concluding a scientific cooperation partnership agreement between the House of Representatives and public universities. This agreement aims to consolidate the House’s openness to its scientific and academic environment, promote research and studies on parliamentary action, and encourage the creation of training courses and laboratories in this scientific field that witnesses a great evolution thanks to the accumulation of parliamentary and democratic practice, jurisprudence, and the achievements of the Constitutional Court in the field of parliamentary action.

To support precise training in parliamentary action, We at the House of Representatives were keen to open the doors of the House to young researchers. In this respect, we annually welcome a large number of research students and offer them internship opportunities within the House. Moreover, we enable them to follow parliamentary practice closely and make it easier for them to benefit from the services of the Library of the House of Representatives and the guidance and supervision of the House’s executives.

With a view to establishing a practical link between the parliamentary act and scientific research, we have committed to involve several professors-researchers and experts in various scientific activities organized by the House of Representatives. Our major concern in this was to achieve complementarity between the actor and political leader, on the one hand, and the specialized scientific and academic researcher, on the other, which could make legislation and policies more interactive with the needs expressed by citizens.

Ladies and gentlemen,

Esteemed attendees,

The House of Representatives is fully aware of the importance of openness to its social environment and parliamentary communication with all stakeholders. To this end, We at the House of Representatives have been working on a new strategy to institutionalize the Open Parliament, which has been achieved thanks to the initiatives we have taken, whether in terms of digitalizing and making information available, interaction and communication, dialogue, consultation, the implementation of participatory democracy mechanisms, and the reinforcement of partnership and cooperation.

In view of the importance of this strategic choice that could contribute to the consolidation of democratic practice and citizen participation, the House of Representatives will always embody this approach and remain open and interactive with its environment, initiating constructive dialogues and serious useful initiatives likely to implement the high Royal directives through which His Majesty stresses the importance of adopting "a policy of proximity and participation, based on the mobilization of all energies and the launching of various initiatives..." to implement the universal principles of democracy and human rights, enshrine the values of true citizenship, and respond to the demands of society.

Ladies and gentlemen,

Esteemed attendees,

On the occasion of the announcement of the results of the third edition of the National Prize for Studies and Research on Parliamentary Action, I am delighted to affirm the attachment of the House of Representatives to this tradition, which aims to promote and encourage scientific knowledge and make scientific research more closely linked to institutional action, decision-making, and policy-making. In line with the recommendations of the Jury, we will be working to upgrade this Prize by strengthening cooperation with specialized university laboratories and research centers and by launching initiatives to train and enhance the skills of young researchers in parliamentary action.

Ladies and gentlemen,

Esteemed attendees,

To conclude, I want to thank all the candidates for the National Prize for Studies and Research on Parliamentary Action. I also offer my most sincere congratulations to this year's awardees, calling on them to pursue their career with greater interest in the documentation, monitoring, and analysis of parliamentary action in its various aspects and fields.

I would also like to thank the scientific committee responsible for examining and evaluating all the nominated scientific works. I thank Professor Amina El Messaoudi, President of the Jury, and Professors Najib Ba Mohammed, Ahmed Bouachik, Mohamed Bouaziz, and Saloua Zerhouni.

May God help us to achieve the good of our country under the wise guidance of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, may God assist and glorify him.

Thank you for your attention.