Delegation of the House of Representatives Holds Talks with Officials of the French National Assembly and Senate

A delegation of the House of Representatives held talks on Thursday, December 8, 2022, with the First Deputy Speaker of the French National Assembly, MP. Valéry Rabault (The Socialist Party), the Vice-Chair of the France-Morocco Parliamentary Friendship Group at the French Senate, and the Chair of the Senate’s Group on Gender Equality and Women’s Rights. 

On that occasion, MP. Valéry Rabault stressed the importance of Morocco-France relations given that the Kingdom of Morocco is the most stable country in the region at the geopolitical level based on its deep-rooted political history and strong institutions. The French parliamentarian also highlighted the imperative of working toward building the future of these relations. 

Besides, MP. Valéry Rabault noted the critical role of the legislative institutions of the two countries in achieving this goal, stressing the importance of pursuing the dynamism of exchange and dialogue between them. Moreover, she added that the Institutional Twinning Program linking the House of Representatives, the French National Assembly, and other national parliaments, supported by the European Union, is a testament to the will of the political powers at both institutions to develop and diversify cooperation. 

For their part, the members of the Moroccan delegation noted the role of parliamentary diplomacy in reinforcing understanding between the two countries. In the same regard, they underscored the importance of mutual understanding of the vital questions and interests of both countries, highlighting the great importance of the freedom of peoples’ regular movement. 

On the same occasion, the delegation members gave an overview of the reforms the Kingdom of Morocco adopted to empower women politically and economically, preserve their rights, and achieve parity and equality. They also underlined the prominence of the social protection project as one of the structural reforms launched by His Majesty King Mohammed VI, may Allah glorify him. Besides, they added that guaranteeing social rights goes together with other significant political and institutional reforms based on twinning, structural projects in infrastructure, and economic reforms amidst an unstable global context that the Kingdom addresses with reform and collective national determination to consolidate development and democracy. 

In response to the interventions of the Moroccan delegation, MP. Valéry Rabault commended these reforms and noted that the “Kingdom of Morocco is a geopolitically stable country that enjoys a distinguished position at the international level, which is important.” In the meantime, she praised the participation of Moroccan women and youth in politics and their contribution to enhancing the performance of institutions. 

The Moroccan parliamentary delegation also held talks with the Chair of the Group on Gender Equality and Women's Rights at the French Senate, Sen. Annick Billon, and the Vice-Chair of the Morocco-France Parliamentary Friendship Group, at the same Chamber, Sen. Céline Boulay Espéronnier. The talks covered women’s participation in politics and legislative and executive bodies, as well as other themes of mutual concern. 

It should be noted that the delegation of the House of Representatives is on a visit to the French National Assembly as part of the Institutional Twinning Program between the House and the legislative assemblies of six countries (Czech Republic, Belgium, Italy, Greece, Hungary, and Portugal).