House of Representatives Fulfills Agenda of Extraordinary Session After Adopting Government Bill 46.19 in Second Reading

The House of Representatives unanimously adopted on Tuesday, March 23, 2021, in second reading, Government Bill 46.19 on the National Authority for Integrity and Prevention and Fight Against Corruption, included in the agenda of the extraordinary session. The adoption took place during a plenary sitting chaired by the Speaker of the House Habib El Malki and attended by Minister of Economy, Finance, and Administration Reform Mohamed Benchaâboun.

In his statement on the occasion, the Minister noted that Government Bill 46.19 comes as part of updating the prerogatives granted to the Authority by virtue of the 2011 Constitution and following the high directives of His Majesty the King where he stressed the imperative of moralizing public life, consolidating integrity, and fighting all manifestations of corruption. The Bill also comes as a response to the aspirations of citizens and their hopes for more transparency, probity, and quality.

The Bill was referred to the House of Representatives in second reading after being amended by the House of Councilors. The latter revised the 16th provision of Article 4 that covers the competencies of the Authority. The Bill defines Authority's roles, formation, organization, functioning, and cases of incompatibility.

The Authority will contribute to the national effort aiming to fight the scourge of corruption, entrench good governance, disseminate the values of integrity and transparency, and address the increasing manifestations of corruption, in alignment with the recognized standards regulating the anti-corruption authorities, namely independence and expanding the scope of intervention to include governance, prevention, and combat.

Following the approval of the Government Bill 46.19 in second reading, the House would have fulfilled the agenda of the extraordinary session. The Bill will enter into force after its publication in the Official Gazette and as of the date of the appointment of the president of the Authority, its members, and general secretary.