In an open letter to the Prime Minister, a coalition of syndicates and professional organizations representing journalists, publishers, and human rights groups has voiced strong opposition to the government's continued push to pass Bill No. 26.25, which seeks to reorganize the National Press Council. The organizations argued that the bill, as drafted, lacks legitimacy among professionals and fails to ensure genuine representation for journalists and publishers. They stressed that numerous memoranda and statements have already deemed the text unconstitutional, particularly for violating Article 28 of the constitution and contradicting the Press and Publication Code. According to the letter, the bill undermines the principle of self-regulation and threatens the independence and freedom of the press. The signatories include the National Syndicate of Moroccan Press, the Moroccan Federation of Newspaper Publishers, the National Union of Journalism, Media, and Communication (Moroccan Labor Union), the National Syndicate of Media and Press (Democratic Confederation of Labor), and the Moroccan Confederation of Newspaper and Electronic Media Publishers. The organizations criticized the bill for imposing two conflicting models of representation within the council: election for journalists and appointment for publishers' representatives. They noted that publishers' seats are tied to criteria such as turnover and number of employees, granting disproportionate power to large institutions while sidelining small and medium-sized media outlets. They also rejected the introduction of open individual voting to elect journalists' representatives, describing it as a step backwards compared to the 2018 system, which ensured balance through union lists. Furthermore, the letter denounced the bill for institutionalizing a regulatory approach that hands executive and disciplinary powers to major publishers, contradicting Morocco's international commitments on union freedoms and professional representation. The organizations accused the government of disregarding the will of most professionals, relying instead on a numerical majority rather than building broad consensus in the sector. The letter concluded by urging the Prime Minister to withdraw the bill from the House of Councillors and return it to the social dialogue table for redrafting in line with professional consensus. The signatories insisted that any reform of the National Press Council must align with Article 78 of the constitution and take into account the economic, social, and professional dimensions of the press sector. Article modified on : 12/09/2025 19h17
