Board of the House : Legislature (2016-2021):
Board of House of Representatives Holds Weekly Meeting on Monday, January 4th, 2021
The Board of the House of Representatives held its weekly meeting under the chairmanship of the Speaker of the House Habib El Malki on Monday, January 4th, 2021. The meeting was devoted to control, legislation, and the House’s work program.
At the start of the meeting, the House’s Speaker and Board members recalled the main events that marked the last year, particularly the successive developments in the primary national cause and the diplomatic achievements consolidating the legitimacy of the territorial integrity of the Kingdom, realized thanks to the enlightened and visionary approach of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, may God protect him.
The Board also recalled the Moroccan people's united effort to combat the pandemic and the solidarity spirit that reigned during challenging moments lived by our country and the world. The Board affirmed the importance of the major issues that emanated from the pandemic's repercussions on the levels of economy, the informal sector, social protection, and health coverage. In this respect, the Board affirmed the Parliament's role in contributing and engaging in several open major projects and elaborating adequate solutions and suggestions.
The House’s Speaker reiterated the peculiar importance of the resolutions of the House organs regarding the precautionary measures, commending the efforts of the nation’s representatives in enforcing the measures that ensure their safety while they perform their national duty.
Regarding the action of the thematic working groups, the House’s Speaker recalled the outcomes of the works of the thematic working group in charge of the healthcare system, created by the Board of the House. The Group worked through a collaborative methodology as it held several hearing sessions with the different actors in the health sector to identify the system's needs and its structural flaws and present recommendations regarding them. The Speaker also mentioned the advanced stage reached by the Group in drafting its report, which will be presented before the House at the start of February 2021.
Concerning parliamentary control, the Board of the House deliberated again on the available formulas to give a new impetus to the weekly oral questions sittings to improve their efficiency and meticulous coverage of the issues at hand and to consolidate the principle of interaction with the Government. After reviewing the experience enforced during the lockdown period, which was based on questions followed by a debate alongside the regular questioning system, the Board has decided to draft a guiding document that takes into consideration the different observations and recommendations presented by the different House components to further improve the efficiency of this weekly control activity.
As for legislation, the Board reviewed the standing committees' work pace, reiterating the importance of the texts approved by the House during the ongoing session, which amount to 26 bills. In the same respect, the Board has decided to schedule the Government Organic Bill on appointment to senior positions and the Government Bill ratifying the decree-law on the payable penalties to restore the ability to issue cheques for a vote in a sitting on Monday, January 4th, 2021, right after the oral questions sitting.
As regards the reports of the exploratory missions, the Board discussed the report of the Foreign Affairs, National Defense, Islamic Affairs, and Moroccan Expatriates Committee on the Moroccan consulates abroad, which identified the situation of these consulates and the relation of the beneficiaries to the administrative services provided by the consulates, in addition to the different emanating constraints and problematics.
After commending the content of the report and its conclusions and affirming the efforts of the members of this exploratory mission and the feedback and cooperation and willingness of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation, and Moroccan Expatriates and the different visited consulates, the Board has decided to schedule the report for the plenary sitting of Tuesday, February 2nd, 2021.
About the report of the Justice, Legislation, and Human Rights Committee on the situation of some penitentiary institutions in the Kingdom (Ain Sebaâ Prison, Toulal 1 prison in Meknes, Moul Lbergui Prison in Safi), the Board affirmed the importance of the report and its content and conclusions. It also lauded the efforts of the members of the exploratory mission and the positive and effective collaboration of the General Delegation for Prison Administration and Reintegration (DGAPR), the Ministry of State in Charge of Human Rights and the Relations with the Parliament, the Ministry of Justice, and the Ministry of Religious Endowments and Islamic Affairs.
After reviewing the information above, the Board has decided to present the report in a plenary sitting in February 2021.