Board of the House : Legislature (2016-2021):
Board of House of Representatives Holds Meeting on Tuesday, September 29th, 2020
The Board of the House of Representatives held its weekly meeting under the Chairmanship of Speaker of House of Representatives Habib El Malki on Tuesday, September 29th, 2020. The meeting was devoted to topics on control, legislation, and the House's relation to some constitutional institutions.
At the onset of the meeting, the House’s Speaker recalled the events that marked the national scene during the latest few weeks, evoking mainly the two speeches of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, may God assist Him, on the occasion of the Glorious Throne Day and the Anniversary of the Revolution of the King and the People; speeches where His Majesty, may God protect Him, launched structuring projects on the social and economic levels.
Also, the House’s Speaker and Board members recalled the efforts made by the standing committees during the intersession, both regarding the approval of decree-laws that were imposed by national interest and through controlling the different ministries and their management of vital sectors like health, education, economy, finance, agriculture, employment, foreign affairs, tourism, culture, youth, and sports.
The Board also noted the dynamic that marked the committees’ action regarding the start of examining some highly important legal texts, such as the Government bill on the National Authority for Probity, Prevention and Fight against Corruption (INPPLC), which is subject to profound discussion within the Justice, Legislation, and Human Rights Committee.
Besides, the Board examined the legislative record presented by the parliamentary groups and caucus as part of parliamentary bills, such as the legal framework of the organic bill on the House of Representatives, and some provisions on the civil procedure code, unlawful enrichment, and conflict of interests.
Regarding control, the House’s Board reviewed the positive record that marked the previous session in weekly oral questions, which the Board has decided to organize following the provisions of Article 268 of the Rules of Procedure of the House of Representatives as questions followed by a debate, and through including one or two topics in each plenary sitting.
Following the decision above, the Board has decided, after concertation between the House Speakership and the chairpersons of the parliamentary groups and caucus, to set the agenda of the oral questions sittings of October to cover the sectors of education and agriculture on October 12th and health and interior on October 26th, 2020.
As for the sitting devoted to questions on general policy to the Head of Government, the Board has decided to convene it on October 19th, 2020, and defined its agenda to cover "Government Policy in the light of the evolution of the epidemiological situation."
Also, regarding Government control, the Board examined the outcomes of the exploratory missions whose creation it has previously approved, and reiterated its decisions on the matter. The Board also stressed the importance of this control mechanism as it contributes to consolidating the House's participation in the different projects and institutions that require active follow-up.
In this respect, the Board discussed and approved the Social Sectors Committee's request to run an interim exploratory mission on the procurement contracts concluded by the Ministry of Health as part of our country’s campaign to fight COVID-19. It has also been agreed to merge two requests on the matter in one exploratory mission.
As for the request of the Foreign Affairs, National Defense, Islamic Affairs, and Moroccan Expatriates Committee, which concerns running an interim exploratory mission to inquire on the actual situation of several Moroccan children, women, and citizens who are stuck in some flashpoints like Syria and Iraq. In this respect, the House's Speaker recalled the Board's previous decision, which had a procedural basis, but affirmed the importance of the request considering its nationalist, humanitarian, and solidarity aspects.
After examining the different aspects of the matter, the Board has decided to approve the request and communicate with the Head of the Government on the matter.
Additionally, the Board examined the request of the Infrastructure, Energy, Mining, and Environment Committee, who invited the Board to approve its request to resume the interim exploratory mission on quarries. The Board approved the request.
As for the request deposited by the Social Sectors Committee on running an exploratory mission to inspect the situation of hospitals and their capacity to host patients in the case of any epidemiological development, and their ability to provide health services, the Board has given its initial approval and called the said Committee to determine the number of hospitals and their geographical spread before providing a final decision on the matter.
Concerning the relation of the House to some constitutional institutions, the Board reviewed several reports elaborated by the Economic, Social, and Environmental Council (CESE), which include its annual report and its opinion on the regional integration of Morocco in Africa. The Board also reviewed the National Human Rights Council (CNDH) report on the protests in Jrada and the annual report of the National Authority for Probity, Prevention and Fight Against Corruption (INPPLC). The reports were circulated among the members of the House.
The Board has also decided to include the House's relation to constitutional institutions in the agenda of its next meeting.