Speaker of House of Representatives Meets Chairpersons of Parliamentary Groups and Caucuses on March 30th, 2020

Speaker of House of Representatives Habib El Malki held a meeting with the chairpersons of parliamentary groups and caucuses on Monday, March 30^th. The meeting tackled the House’s activities and the convention of its sessions.

At the beginning of the meeting, the House’s components recalled with pride and appreciation the successive actions and initiatives taken by HM King Mohammed VI, may God glorify Him, in health, economy, and social sectors, and his accompaniment to mitigate the effects of the problematic situation currently taking place in Morocco and the world because of the state of health emergency imposed to face the Coronavirus COVID-19.

The chairpersons of parliamentary groups and caucuses commended the sacrifices made by the Government, public authorities and institutions, and the Moroccan people to put an end to the outbreak of this pandemic. Also, they paid tribute to health workers, Royal Military Forces, Territorial Administration, National Security, Royal Gendarmerie, Civil Protection, teachers, journalists, civil society, and the private sector. They also reaffirmed that the complexity of the situation calls for more synergy, coherence, and solidarity as these are the values that fortify our resilience and consolidate the meaning of collective security in facing threats and challenges.

Besides, the House’s Speaker and the chairpersons of parliamentary groups and caucuses affirmed that the ongoing situation is not an opportunity for rest and recess. In this respect, the House’s components are mobilized to pursue working in accordance with the circumstances imposed by the health situation. Also, the legislative institution will pursue working through follow-up, questioning, control, and suggesting solutions and alternatives, just as learning continues for students, and just as productive and trade institutions continue to fulfill the needs of citizens. The House’s components stressed the importance of solidarity during this phase, solidarity that Moroccans have shown both humanly and socially through material contribution and solidarity around the efforts done to prevent and put an end to this pandemic. There had been several challenges that Moroccans have overcome via solidarity, unity, and patriotism.

As for the House’s works, the House’s components affirmed that all the active projects in legislation and Government control will be bound to the particular context imposed by the current situation. The participants have agreed on the modalities of attendance to the opening of the Spring Session, which will take place on Friday, April 10^th, under the provisions Article 65 of the Constitution. They have also agreed on the modalities of attendance to the following sessions, and the convention of two plenary sessions devoted to questions on general policy, which are answered by the Head of Government. The first session will be held on Monday, April 13^th, and will be devoted to:

“Health, Economic, and Social Impacts of the Coronavirus COVID-19 and the Measures Taken to Face it.”

The participants have also agreed on an agenda comprising weekly sessions of questioning and discussion involving the ministries of Health; Internal Affairs; Agriculture, Fisheries, Rural Development, Water and Forests; Economy, Finance and Administration Reform; Industry, Trade, Digital and Green Economy; National Education, Vocational Training, Higher Education and Scientific Research; Labor and Vocational Integration.

Additionally, the participants stressed the critical importance of the House in these extraordinary circumstances, especially regarding communicating with the public opinion and conveying their concerns through its constitutional competences. They also reaffirmed that the health and security of Morocco and its people are a priority over all political conflicts, and that national unity will always remain the asset of Morocco in facing hardships and challenges.

The participants concluded the meeting by paying tribute to health workers in public and private hospitals, who are at the front-line of this confrontation. They also wished a quick recovery for all people touched with this pandemic, praying for the peace of those who died of it, and expressing their sincere condolences to their families.