Board of House of Representatives Holds Meeting on Thursday, May 21st, 2020

The Board of the House of Representatives held its weekly meeting on Thursday, May 21^st, 2020, under the chairmanship of the House’s Speaker Habib El Malki. The meeting’s agenda covered Government control, legislation, and other topics.

The Speaker of the House and the Board members started the meeting by stressing the importance of the plenary sitting held by the House to discuss the address of the Head of Government on the sanitary lockdown after May 20^th. The sitting was an occasion to evaluate government work and make several suggestions and recommendations regarding economic, social, and humanitarian issues. The participants noted the necessity of a broader national mobilization to ensure the success of the course chosen by Morocco under the wise leadership of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, may God protect Him.

The meeting was also an occasion to discuss the next actions of the House, especially the ones relating to the examination, discussion, and adoption of the amending finance bill announced by the Head of Government in his address. The bill will be the focus of talks between political parties, unions, and economic actors.

Also, the Board of the House recalled the constraints imposed by the state of public health emergency, especially regarding the legal framework that regulates it. The Board also noted that the amendment of the Rules of Procedure of the House must be approached carefully, especially by adapting the state of emergency and precautionary measures to the provisions of the Rules of Procedure, with due observance of the constitutional requirements. The Board also discussed several projects that it, and the other components of the House, have previously covered, especially the ones relative to the system of oral questions and the organization of the activities of standing committees.

Besides, the Board highlighted the national effort of the House members during the sanitary lockdown, both within their constituencies and as part of parliamentary action. These efforts culminated in the adoption of several texts with the efficiency and timeliness required. The Board also reviewed the continuous control exercised over the executive branch through questioning several ministries that contribute actively to the economic, social, and security sectors during the sanitary lockdown.

Additionally, the Board stressed the importance of the regular and weekly meetings held by the standing committees as part of their control and legislative role. Besides, the Board noted the significant public debate that emanated during the sanitary lockdown, which was marked by the participation of all Moroccan people, in a spirit of responsibility, patriotism, and total respect for the constitutional institutions of the country. This debate reflects a level awareness, whose importance some dissident voices cannot undermine, nor can they downgrade the patriotic spirit it emanates from.

Regarding Government control, the Board has decided to schedule the sector of agriculture as the topic for questions during the sitting planned on Monday, June 1^st. The sitting will follow the format of questions followed by a debate.

As for legislation, the Board reviewed a parliamentary draft organic bill supplementing the organic bill relative to communes, and a parliamentary bill on the tax system of local municipalities. The Board referred the two bills to the Internal Affairs, Communes, Housing, and Urban Policy Committee. Also, the Board referred two parliamentary bills on the law regulating the contractual relations between landlords and leaseholders to the Justice, Legislation, and Human Rights Committee.

During the meeting, the Board also reviewed the overview report prepared by the Accounting Board. The report was presented by the First Deputy-Speaker of the House Slimane El Omrani.