Board of House of Representatives Holds Weekly Meeting on Monday, April 13th, 2020

The Board of the House of Representatives held its weekly meeting on Monday, April 13^th, 2020. The meeting was chaired by the House’s Speaker Habib El Malki. It was devoted to setting the House’s agenda regarding legislation and control, bearing in mind the peculiarity of the current situation.

At the beginning of the meeting, the Speaker and the Board members recalled the high spirit of patriotism that marked the opening of the second legislative session. In this respect, the members, from their various political affiliations, expressed their pride in the successful measures taken by Morocco under the leadership of HM King Mohammed VI, may God protect Him. They also noted the particularity of this phase, which calls for more efforts of the legislative institution, through contributing to the national mobilization marked by solidarity and support for the affected social groups.

Regarding legislation, the participants reviewed the legislative framework that regulates the healthcare system in our country, namely the framework law and the other texts that relate to medical practice, health insurance, public institutions, and professional bodies.

The discussion between the Board members culminated in the stress on the value of Morocco’s legislative record. The members also noted that they, and all the House’s components, are ready to take the necessary initiatives regarding legal texts concerning the health sector. This is in order to match Moroccan legislation with the growing needs and make it meet the consensus around the importance and priority of this vital sector in our country.

In the run-up to implement this measure, the Board called for collective forward-looking thinking with the Government and all the House’s bodies and other actors, in the form of study and outreach days. The Board has also decided to establish an ad hoc committee to prepare for this critical project.

As regards developing the legal system regulating the work of the House, the participants stressed the importance of the House’s Rules of Procedure, and the necessity of amending some of its provisions and setting new ones following the legal and procedural developments imposed by the state of public health emergency, and its impacts on the work of the House. The Board has decided to establish a committee on this matter.

As for examining the proposed texts, the Board reviewed two Government bills on fighting money laundering and conventional arbitration and mediation and referred them to the Justice, Legislation and Human Rights Committee. The Board also referred a Government bill on fertilizers and plant props to the Productive Sectors Committee. 

Concerning parliamentary initiative, the Board noted the significance of the parliamentary bills submitted during March and April, which are eleven bills that tackle social, economic, financial, and environmental aspects.

The Board also referred two parliamentary bills to the Justice, Legislation and Human Rights Committee. The first bill stipulates amending Article 8 of Law 49.16 on renting premises for commercial, industrial, or vocational use while the second bill stipulates amending Law 67.12 on regulating contractual relationships between landlords and leaseholders of properties for habitation or professional use.

As regards managing the legislation work, and in alignment with the precautionary measures in force, the Board reiterated the necessity of implementing the provisions of the Constitution with respect to putting the submitted legal texts to discussion and vote.

Besides, the Board highlighted that all the House’s components are ready to adopt and enrich legislative texts tackling the current situation, either those that cover social and economic sectors, or security.

With reference to Government control, the Board has set, in agreement with the Government, a chronological agenda for the ministries in the weekly sessions. The ministries concerned are: Ministry of Health; Ministry of Labor and Vocational Integration; Ministry of Economy, Finance and Administration Reform; Ministry of Industry, Trade and Green Economy; Ministry of National Education, Vocational Training, Higher Education and Scientific Research; Ministry of Interior; and Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Rural Development, Water and Forests.

In relation to the activities of standing committees, the Board lauded the positions of the House’s components as regards adopting the decree-laws relative to the current situation, and their immediate and efficient response to fill the urgent legislative needs. The Board also stressed the importance of the requests of the parliamentary groups and caucuses regarding their calls for convening meetings on the ongoing situation, calling the Government for immediate response to hold said meetings.

About control, the Board reaffirmed that written questions addressed to the Government by the deputies are essential. In this respect, the Board renewed its call to the Government to respond to them at the earliest convenience.