House of Representatives: Committee Approval of Two Bills Relating to Political Parties and Electoral Lists
Adoption of Two Organic Bills
On Friday, the Interior Committee of the House of Representatives adopted two organic bills concerning political parties and electoral lists, in the presence of the Minister of the Interior, Abdelouafi Laftit. The bills include Organic Law No. 54.25 amending Law No. 29.11 related to political parties, as well as Bill No. 55.25 revising Law No. 57.11 concerning electoral lists, referendums, and the use of public audiovisual media during campaigns.
Majority Vote and Volume of Amendments
The two bills were approved with 19 votes, while five deputies abstained. Parliamentary groups and independent deputies submitted a total of 144 amendments, of which 46 were presented by the PJD group, 34 by the Socialist Opposition Ittihad group, 13 by the PPS, 11 by the Haraki group, and 8 by the majority. Independent Deputy Fatima Tamni alone proposed 32 amendments.
Objectives of Proposed Amendments
The amendments primarily aim to simplify the establishment of political parties, strengthen their funding framework, and regulate the membership of certain professional categories. They also include transitional measures concerning the status of officials and agents of the Ministry of the Interior affiliated with parties.
Amendments Accepted by the Government
The government accepted several proposals, including those from the PJD related to extending the deadline for submitting a party’s registration documents from 30 to 45 days, and extending the deadline for parties to submit their annual accounts or regularize their financial situation to 45 days. An amendment from the Socialist Opposition Ittihad group was also accepted, allowing parties to establish parallel institutions dedicated to reflection, training, and parallel diplomacy.
Debate on Donation Cap
Regarding Article 31, which sets the annual cap on individual donations at 800,000 dirhams, differing proposals have emerged: some groups wish to raise it to 1 million dirhams, while others prefer to reduce it to 500,000 dirhams to avoid undue influence on parties. The Minister of the Interior expressed openness to a compromise based on consensus.
Use of Private Media During Campaigns
An amendment pertaining to the use of private audiovisual media during electoral campaigns was introduced, emphasizing that these media, receiving public support, must ensure equal opportunities among parties. The minister stated that this issue should be examined in the context of public support for private media, rather than within this bill.
Adoption of the Bill Relating to the House of Representatives
During the same meeting, the committee adopted Organic Bill No. 53.25 concerning the House of Representatives, supported by 19 deputies, with one opposing vote and four abstentions. This bill dominated discussions, with government efforts to strengthen the electoral process being praised.
A Debate Characterized by Responsibility and Commitment
According to Mohamed Oudmine, the president of the committee, approximately 307 amendments were submitted concerning all texts related to the electoral system. These mainly addressed sanctions, incompatibility cases, procedures for establishing parties, and the use of communication means during campaigns.
