Speaker of House of Representatives Affirms that Civil Society is Partner in Building the Future of Morocco

Speaker of House of Representatives Habib El Malki affirmed, Friday, March 13^th, that civil society is a partner in building the future of Morocco, expressing the keenness of the House to open up to all actors of civil society. In his address during the celebration of the Civil Society National Day organized by the Ministry of State for Human Rights and Relations with Parliament, the House’s Speaker recalled that the House of Representatives hosted the first colloquium with civil society in May 2019, and the symposium on participatory democracy on February 25^th, 2020. He also stressed the engagement of the House in simplifying the measures related to participatory democracy to achieve the lofty goals of the Constitution.

Mr. El Malki also noted the various opportunities and broader horizons opened by the constitution and local legislation to Moroccan civil society for it to contribute to public affairs and to govern their management, to push public policies and programs towards meeting the needs of the community. In this respect, he said, “The closeness marking the work of civil society, its sectoral reach, and the diversity of the areas it works on are, without a doubt, elements that qualify it to guide citizens’ initiatives concerning the petitions directed to public authorities and elected national and local bodies, and the motions on legislation directed to both Houses of the Parliament.”

In this respect, he highlighted that the House of Representatives created the Petitions Committee in charge of receiving the petitions of citizens under the provisions of the Constitution, the House’s Rules of Procedure, and the relevant Organic Law. He also revealed that its competences would be widened to encompass motions on legislation, stating that the House has included two services in charge of petitions and motions in the new administrative structure of the House. The House’s Speaker also noted the creation of an online platform, in cooperation with the Government, to manage the petitions of citizens, respond to them, and decide their outcomes.

Also, the House’s Speaker stressed that civil society is a key partner to the Government and elected bodies in setting strategies to face the challenges that arise and mitigate their risks. He also commended the dynamism of civil society bodies and associations in Morocco and their commitment to work in several sectors like education, guidance and culture, and their contribution to local development and defense and consolidation of human rights in all their aspects and generations.

Besides, Mr. El Malki confirmed that civil society in the Kingdom of Morocco is a key partner in development for its productive dynamism of added value to developing social and solidarity-based economy, and its contribution to giving several groups of society access to numerous social services. This dynamism is what makes civil society a partner to the Government and public sector in achieving development and advocacy towards reaching it and making it responsive to the needs of the community.

Mr. El Malki also commended the active presence of Moroccan civil society abroad, and the positive feedback to its activities and initiatives, which are reinforced by the positive and valuable contributions of Moroccan expatriates through their vital civic actions.

Speaker of the House of Representatives called to utilize the record of Moroccan civil society in its relations with its peers in northern countries, through reinforcing its relations with its counterparts in African countries. He also noted that the Kingdom of Morocco, thanks to the African policy led by HM King Mohammed VI, may God assist him, aims at establishing balanced partnership and mutual profit, and empowering Africa to control its assets and decisions.