Petitions Committee Informs Speaker of House of Representatives of Two Parliamentary Bills Aimed at Simplifying the Procedures Relative to Petitions and Motions on Legislation

Speaker of House of Representatives Habib El Malki chaired on Monday, November 16^th, 2020, at the House’s headquarters, a meeting with the members of the Petitions Committee under the House of Representatives, whose chairperson is Rachid El Abdi. The meeting was devoted to presenting two parliamentary organic bills amending and supplementing Organic Law 64.14, setting the conditions and modalities for exercising the right to submit motions on legislation and Organic Law 44.14 defining the conditions and modalities for exercising the right to petition public authorities.

During the meeting, the Petitions Committee members highlighted several obstacles and difficulties that hinder the citizens' exercise of their constitutional rights to present motions on legislation and to submit petitions to public authorities, particularly those addressed to the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

Taking into consideration similar international experiences and the recommendations of the seminar organized by the Petitions Committee at the House of Representatives earlier this year on “Participatory Democracy: Reality Constraints and Development Prospects,” the Committee recommended amending the two aforementioned organic laws to contribute to the development of the democratic practice in our country. 

On his part, the Speaker of the House of Representatives highlighted that participatory democracy is one of the pillars of the 2011 Constitution, noting the importance of simplifying the procedures relative to petitions and motions on legislation to enable citizens to exercise this constitutional right. In this respect, he added, “participatory democracy is an important constitutional achievement, and action within institutions is the best manner to respond to the citizens’ concerns.”

The participants agreed on launching consultations with the House organs and bodies regarding the two parliamentary organic bills and ensuring coordination with the Government concerning the amendment of Organic Law 64.14 setting the conditions and modalities for exercising the right to submit motions on legislation and Organic Law 44.14 defining the conditions and modalities for exercising of the right to petition public authorities.