The Moroccan government has officially approved a draft law to reorganize the National Press Council (CNP), marking a decisive step toward stabilizing the country’s media regulatory framework.
Presented by Mohamed Mehdi Bensaid, Minister of Youth, Culture, and Communication, the bill incorporates specific amendments mandated by the Constitutional Court. These changes aim to align the CNP’s structure with constitutional principles of freedom of expression and professional self-regulation. Key updates to the bill include the removal of two senior editor seats, a mandatory minimum of one seat for women per professional organization, and the introduction of proportional representation for seat allocation.
A significant development in this legislative session was the withdrawal of a draft decree-law that would have established a “special commission” to manage the press and publishing sector. This proposed body—intended to include a judge and government-appointed experts—had sparked intense backlash from journalists and professional organizations. Critics argued that appointing external, non-elected members to manage the CNP would undermine the fundamental principle of independent self-regulation.
Minister Bensaid clarified that the government decided to withdraw the commission after determining there was no urgent need for such a transitional body, opting instead to focus on the formal institutional reorganization of the CNP itself.
The National Press Council, which is responsible for issuing professional press cards and enforcing ethical standards, has been in a state of administrative vacancy since its previous mandate expired. The newly approved draft law is scheduled for review by the relevant parliamentary committee this Monday, with formal adoption expected during the April session.
AK/Sf/fss/abj/APA