House of Representatives Adopts Unanimously One Government Bill on the National Press Council and Two Parliamentary Bills on Familial Mutual Aid and Moroccan Citizenship
The House of Representatives adopted, on Monday, January 23, 2023, a Government Bill on the National Press Council and two parliamentary bills on the Familial Mutual Aid Fund and Moroccan citizenship. The adoption occurred during two legislative plenary sittings chaired by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Rachid Talbi El Alami, with the presence of the Minister of Justice, Mr. Abdellatif Ouahbi, and the Minister Delegate to the Head of Government in Charge of Relations with the Parliament and Government Spokesperson, Mr. Mustapha Baïtas.
During the first sitting, the Representatives adopted by unanimity of votes Government Bill 53.22 ratifying Decree 2.22.770 of October 6, 2022 (Rabii I 9, 1444) enacting special provisions on the National Press Council, which includes a sole article that stipulates: “Shall be ratified the Decree-Law 2.22.770 of October 6, 2022 (Rabii I 9, 1444) enacting special provisions on the National Press Council.”
The previous law did not include any precautionary provisions that can be put in place in the event that elections are not held on time or if the mandate of the National Press Council expires before the convention of the ordinary session of both Houses of the Parliament, which dictated the issuance of this Decree-Law, per the provisions set forth in Article 81 of the Constitution.
During the second sitting, the Representatives unanimously adopted a Parliamentary Bill supplementing Article 11 of Dahir 1.58.250 enacting the Law on Moroccan Nationality, which comes as part of the adequate implementation of the provisions of the Constitution that have made Amazighe an official language of the State.
The sole article of the adopted Bill stipulates requirements for obtaining Moroccan citizenship. In this respect, and in addition to habitual residence and the other outlined requirements, one of the new requirements is having sufficient knowledge of Arabic and Amazighe, or one of the said two languages.
The Bill falls under the desire to implement the official nature of Amazighe and guarantee the respect of the laws in force for the Constitution, especially when it comes to the fundamental rights and liberties as they are universally recognized.
During the same sitting, the Representatives adopted by unanimity of votes a Parliamentary Bill amending Articles 2 and 4 of Law 41.10 determining the conditions and procedures to benefit from the services of the Familial Mutual Aid Fund.
The Bill comes in harmony with the provisions of the Third Chapter of the Third Part of the Moroccan Family Code related to the maintenance of relatives. In this respect, Article 197 of the Chapter stipulates, “Maintenance of relatives shall be provided by children to their parents and parents to their children, under the provisions of the present Code.”
The Bill aims to enable parents in need who deserve maintenance for humanitarian, economic, or social circumstances, to benefit from familial aid.